Contractor wants to address 'skills crisis' with new training centre in north Shropshire
The north Shropshire firm is awaiting a decision on expansion plans to create a new training hub and other buildings as part of a regeneration project
A north Shropshire contractor is planning to open a new training centre to address what it calls the skills crisis facing the construction industry.
McFour wants to construct a series of new buildings on its site near Whitchurch which will include an education centre where it will train people working in all levels of the industry.
The expansion proposals also include a new workshop and MOT centre to service and test the company's vehicles, a services building which could be adapted for a variety of uses and 46 additional parking spaces.
McFour, which currently has around 70 staff and operates from a site off the A49 Whitchurch Road in Prees Heath, specialises in civil engineering, drainage and other construction work.
The company hopes to secure planning permission by the end of November, with construction starting immediately afterwards, and it is expected that the training centre and other facilities will generate at least 20 new jobs.
Business and training manager Delia McDermott said the regeneration of the site would support all aspects of the business, including helping to train the next generation of workers.
"I think we have reached crisis levels with the skills gap because the UK construction industry is under severe pressure," she said.
"Nationally, Skills England has said we need to recruit over a million workers by 2035 across the industry. It's going to be hard work to achieve that.
"There is an ageing workforce and people are struggling to find staff because it's a shrinking talent pool.
"We ourselves have an ageing workforce which is why we're very keen to be proactive and to bring on and train young talent and take them forward with us into the future.
"The Construction Industry Training Board has identified there's a massive deficit in the construction industry - it is a very serious problem."
McFour's staff are able to do some training at its base in Prees Heath but they also have to study online or travel to other locations around the country, adding to the company's expenses.
Ms McDermott said the new training centre would enable the business to bring in a greater range of external teachers to train not only the firm's own staff but also people from the local community, in particular young people looking for their first step on the career ladder.
"We do a wide variety of training within the construction industry, covering everything from an entry-level right up to executive site management," she said.
"We as a business have an existing need for training but the new centre will be open to the wider community once we're up and running. There isn't a training centre for construction in this area and there is a great need for it.
"We wanted to be proactive as a direct response to the skills gap and this new facility will create a steady pipeline of local workers, equipping young people and career changers with essential skills the industry is very short of at the moment.
"We aim to support the local economy and construction sector and we want to give something back to the community as well. If there's a need for people to have training in construction skills, then they'll be able to come to us to get it.
"Everything is achievable. There's always a pathway in it and, if you're prepared to work hard, the opportunities are there."
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.