Her Worshipful the Mayor of Barnsley, Councillor Linda Burgess, will officially open the new Construction Skills Village in Barnsley at a launch event taking place on Monday 30 January.

The new Skills Village, which opened in November 2016, is a collaboration between Henry Boot Construction, Northern Regeneration, Barnsley College and Barnsley Council and is a result of Barnsley Council’s £100m investment in the Better Barnsley town centre redevelopment. The redevelopment is aimed at creating a brighter future where people achieve their potential and a better Barnsley with a thriving and vibrant economy that supports the creation of more and better jobs and good business growth, which are key priorities for the council.

The Skills Village will provide local people with the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge within the construction field in order to address the skills shortage and close the gap between education and the construction industry, whilst also supporting the construction skills required for the Better Barnsley town centre development.

Students at the Skills Village, which is based in Barnsley town centre, work on a ‘live’ construction site and gain first-hand experience of working on a construction build from design to finish whilst developing their skills in a range of construction trades including groundworks, painting and decorating, plastering, bricklaying, carpentry and joinery and plumbing.

Students from Barnsley College have worked on the Skills Village site in preparation for the official launch. Painting and Decorating students have painted the on-site cabins and Joinery students have fitted site desks and shelving which they have measured and planned themselves.

Guests invited to the official launch event will have the opportunity to find out more about the Skills Village, take a tour of the site and see students working in training areas on activities such as roofing, block paving and guttering.

Guests will also see how the practical industry experience gained at the Skills Village will help to prepare students for a career in construction.

Her Worshipful the Mayor of Barnsley will officially open the Skills Village in a ribbon cutting ceremony as well as announcing the winning design for the hoardings, which have been designed by Barnsley College and University Campus Barnsley students and will be displayed around the Skills Village.

Ryan O’Loughlin, Project Director at Henry Boot Construction, added: “The Better Barnsley redevelopment is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create an employment and skills legacy in Barnsley. The Skills Village will underpin this objective and address the skills shortage by providing demand-led training to potential future employees.”

Graham Ratcliffe, Managing Director at Northern Regeneration, said: “Northern Regeneration, alongside partners Henry Boot, Better Barnsley and Barnsley College are looking forward to the official opening of the Barnsley Construction Skills Village. The Skills Village is a fantastic opportunity to identify and recruit new talent locally to help address the skills gap. On site, students will experience ‘real life’ training and gain genuine work experience and employment opportunities.”

Barnsley College Principal Christopher Webb said: “The Skills Village is an exciting and innovative approach bringing education and industry together for the benefit of our students. It provides an excellent opportunity for students to gain invaluable experience of industry working practices and ensure that, at the end of their course, they are ready for employment. We look forward to welcoming Her Worshipful the Mayor of Barnsley to officially open the Skills Village.”

For further information about the Skills Village call 07506 745808 or email melissa@northernregeneration.co.uk

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Press are invited to attend the official launch event taking place on Monday 30 January, 10.00am at the Skills Village, 1 Lambra Road, Barnsley, S70 1SF

Photo: Students at the new Skills Village

For more information please contact Priya Shirt on 01226 216 252 or email p.shirt@barnsley.ac.uk