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Constructing Futures' Tackles Local Skills Shortage

14 February 2005

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove and key players in Sussex's training & skills sector recently gathered at the Station Gateway Site in Brighton to herald the launch of 'Constructing Futures', a Government-funded project designed to engage with local employers and advise them of the urgent need for a local, skilled construction workforce. Constructing Futures is managed by City College Brighton and Hove and Brighton and Hove City Council and funded by the South East Development Agency (SEEDA).

Over the next 10 years, the scale of planned development in Brighton and Hove is likely to exceed £2 billion pounds. The city currently doesn't have sufficient numbers of skilled workers to deliver this scale of development yet local unemployment is twice the regional average. Clearly, the construction industry needs tradespeople and employers to meet future demands and Constructing Futures is focused on addressing this issue. The average age of a construction worker in Sussex is now 47 and new opportunities need to be generated for young people to access apprenticeships if the local industry is to thrive.

The Mayor and representatives from City College and Adenstar celebrate the launch of

The Mayor and representatives from City College and Adenstar celebrate the launch of

Constructing Futures is about planning and training now to reverse the local skills shortage. It can help businesses to grow by recruiting more of the right staff and offer existing tradespeople retirement alternatives. It will show businesses ways in which they can support the construction industry now and in the future.

For further information, please call Brian Bell, Marketing Communications Officer, on 01273 667788 Ext. 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk

Notes to Editors: The Station Gateway Site, New England Quarter is the largest development in the South East and Constructing Futures is based in the site compound, courtesy of Adenstar, a Sussex-based firm of contractors employing 140 local people.

Major developments in Brighton and Hove will include the Station Site Retail, Housing & Leisure and Education project, the King Alfred Leisure and Housing project, an International Arena at Black Rock, Brighton Marina Housing and Retail project, the Brighton Centre replacement and the Preston Barracks Housing and Commercial project. Other developments and major work could include a new Community Stadium at Falmer and a major refurbishment programme of the Council's Housing Stock.

Constructing Futures is partnered with CITB-ConstructionSkills, Greater Brighton Construction Training (GBCT), Sussex Learning Skills Council (SLSC), Jobcentre Plus, Working Links, Construction Industry Training for Youth (CITY) and Sussex Enterprise.

About City College Brighton and Hove: Founded over 100 years ago, City College Brighton and Hove has become an international centre of excellence. Every year over 2000 full-time and 13,000 part time students as well as many international and European students choose City College as their education provider. Offering over 650 courses from basic level to pre-University level, City College is working with its partners to develop the workforce of the future.