Galliford Try’s regional Building and Partnerships businesses have joined forces to support the education of the next generation of workers at the West Midlands University Technical College (WMUTC), by becoming a Patron to the specialist construction academy.
The mixed University Technical College is based at Springfield Campus in Wolverhampton with a focus on construction and the application of information and communication technology in the built environment. It opened in September 2015 and welcomes students aged from 14 to 19. It has just been rated Good by Ofsted following its first official inspection.
The Patron Programme encourages construction partners to commit extensively to supporting the work of the UTC in a variety of ways, including student and staff mentoring, providing visiting speakers and staff training, employer led project work, site visits, work experience placements and guaranteed interviews for apprenticeships and employment vacancies. It is a logical step for Galliford Try who are a major presence in the local construction market employing a large number of workers on projects such as the Wolverhampton Train Station Interchange and Tapworks and Tower & Fort Works residential housing developments comprising 277 new build houses in the city.
Commenting on the partnership, Dena Burgher New Business Director for Galliford Try Partnerships said: “We see this as a real and timely opportunity to tap into a ready pool of young people who are being equipped through their studies to focus on Innovation, Technology and Digital construction related skills. This
will give students a distinct advantage in seeking professional and technical careers within the construction, built environment and related IT industries.”
Simon Burton, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building West Midlands added: “The combination of employer mentors, extensive work experience, an employer-led project-based curriculum, specialist facilities and a professional work environment will provide an outstanding education for all learners. It is a fantastic opportunity to develop the 21st Century tech driven skills-set that will play an increasing role in the sector over the next few years. BIM is just the start and as a business we need to embrace and adapt to the changes which are coming.”
Principal Avtar Gill said: “The judgement by Ofsted that we are a ‘Good’ school with ‘Outstanding’ personal development and welfare is a testament to the hard work of staff and students and the work-related experiences that we are able to provide. I would urge any young people going into Year 10 or Sixth Form to give serious consideration to continuing with their studies at this fantastic facility that we are so lucky to have in Wolverhampton.”
Springfield Campus, where the UTC is based, is also home to an Elite Centre for Manufacturing (ECMS) and will be joined by the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, as well as a new national brownfield research centre.
The 12-acre £100m brownfield regeneration of the old Springfield Brewery will create Europe’s largest specialist construction and built environment campus, bringing together businesses and the education sector to maximise impact on the local economy.
“We believe in making a positive difference to the local economies in which we work and our collaboration with the UTC will provide the perfect platform to shape our future workforce whilst we continue to offer apprenticeships and graduate recruitment opportunities to those who are just embarking on their career or for those who are ready to step up to the next level. Our close association with WMUTC and the burgeoning wider Springfield campus resources will allow us to actively respond to the West Midlands Regional Skills Strategy while futureproofing our workforce,” concluded James Warrington, Regional Managing Director for Galliford Try Partnerships.
