WLC Awarded Mayor’s Construction Academy Quality Mark

The Mayor of London today announced West London College as one of the skills providers awarded the Construction Academy quality mark. The new mark has been created to identify high-quality construction skills training provision and allows the college to bid for funding to better coordinate skills training with employers’ needs, as well as engage with local schools to promote construction careers.

More Londoners will be able to acquire the crucial skills they need to access jobs in the capital’s construction sector as the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, officially launched his new Construction Academy on Wednesday 6 June 2018. The Mayor also published London’s first ever Skills and Adult Education Strategy – Skills for Londoners – which aims to ensure all Londoners have the skills, education and training they need to succeed and help the capital’s economy to thrive.

The Mayor’s Construction Academy has been developed with the support of construction employers, industry experts and skills providers to close the gap between the need for more homes and the shortage of skilled construction workers. Rather than a single centre, the Academy is a network of construction skills providers across London which will work closely together with construction employers.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is home to some of the most exciting and dynamic talent but there’s no denying we face a shortage in construction skills and that this is hampering our ability to tackle London’s housing crisis. I’m committed to building the workforce of the future – and a key part of this is recognising the best skills providers across the city and using them as exemplars from which others can learn.”

Garry Phillips, CEO of West London College said: “We are delighted to be part of the Mayor’s strategy to develop construction skills training across London. The quality mark awarded to us recognises the strengths of West London College as a provider and supports our vision to grow and develop construction skills training in the wider London region.”

West London College is committed to the challenge of closing the skills gap within the construction industry. The college is currently constructing a brand new construction academy in partnership with Berkeley Group, that will provide high-quality and innovative skills training for Southall and the surrounding communities. Being awarded the Mayor’s quality mark will ensure that the college can grow its provision exponentially, supporting Londoners and the construction industry for years to come.