The Skills Centre has opened its new Essex facility at Horndon Industrial Estate, Brentwood.

The opening, which was hosted by representatives from The Skills Centre, Measom Drylining, alongside Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) CEO Iain McIlwee, and Councillor Louise McKinlay, is the tenth Skills Centre facility in the UK, joining centres based at Earls Court, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Kent, Northampton, Bicester, West Midlands and Southwark.

The new centre will deliver high-quality construction training tailored to the needs of local people and employers, such as Level 1 pre-employment training - which prepares learners for entry into construction, as well as commercial courses like PASMA and apprenticeships in Dry-Lining Interior Systems

-- Advertisement --

In recent months, The Skills Centre has already supported more than 500 local learners in Essex, 363 of whom have been supported into employment or new roles, including:

• 197 pre-employment learners

• 331 NVQs

• Seven apprentices

Khristian Kirkland, a learner with The Skills Centre, who has recently started an apprenticeship with Measom Drylining, said: "The Skills Centre has had a massive impact on my life. Before I started training with them, I didn’t have a clear path. But from day one, the team believed in me and gave me the support and confidence I needed to move forward.

"The pre-employment course helped me build essential skills and gave me a real understanding of what to expect in the construction industry. Thanks to their support, I’ve now started a dry lining apprenticeship with Measom and The Skills Centre, and I finally feel like I’m building a career I can be proud of."

The Skills Centre Essex will act as a hub for local people to gain essential construction skills and qualifications, while also supporting employers to source a pipeline of site-ready talent to meet the growing demand across the region.