VIPs get first look at the UK’s first, co-funded, industry-led construction school
New construction school AccXel welcomed VIP guests today to celebrate its in Cinderford, which is the result of a collaboration of public and private sector as it pioneers the way in construction education.
AccXel has been co-funded by HM Government, GFirst LEP and the family-owned construction business, K W Bell Group. The school has been established to tackle the severe skills shortage plaguing the construction industry, by recruiting new talent to the sector, helping the existing workforce progress to the next phase of their career and connecting both the education and industry sector to accelerate new skills.
Nicola Bird, AccXel’s founder and Managing Director, said: "We are so pleased to be finally opening the doors to AccXel. Over the past year we have garnered a huge amount of support from within the construction industry, which has highlighted how desperately an education facility like AccXel is needed. We are so excited that our school has completed its construction phase, and we can finally put our plans to support the future of the construction workforce into fruition."
AccXel has already secured industry partnerships with industry giants JCB and Leica Geosystems, which have supplied the centre with the highest spec technology for recruits to practise on before they start working on construction sites.
They have also secured partnerships with local and national construction companies to facilitate new employment for apprentices and career changers as they enter the industry. Their partnered businesses collectively have an annual turnover in excess of £2bn and have all pledged to provide employment for 80 of AccXel’s construction apprentices in the first year. Some of these highly reputable partners are Gloucester-based Barnwood Construction, Bloor Homes, Glouceser-based groundworks contractor Coslin Construction, Walters, and national plant rental business headquartered Gloucester, Keyway.
Natalie Bell, AccXel’s Business and Partnerships Director, added: "The support for AccXel has been overwhelming and we are so thankful for it. Whilst we are taking time to enjoy this momentous occasion, we are still looking towards the future. We hope that our facility in Cinderford will be the first of many AccXel construction education facilities to be built around the UK."
Nicola added: “We would like to thank all our wonderful trades who worked on the project for their commitment, passion and enthusiasm during the construction phase. It is a privilege to work in the construction industry, and it makes me proud that we are having such an impact by supporting it’s succession, growth and future ambitions.”.
AccXel officially opens its doors to learners on 6th January 2022.
