The first vocational training course has taken place on IM Properties’ Mercia Park scheme in Leicestershire creating job opportunities for seven young people.
Utilising a new Future of Construction Training Centre on-site, a third-party provider, Vocation Training, was able to run a Traffic Management Operative Course, securing positions for every participant, one of which is at the scheme.
The facility is being provided by IM Properties in partnership with the lead contractor, Winvic Construction, to deliver its commitment to social value which includes a focus on providing employment and skills opportunities associated with the development.
Providing a large classroom, kitchen and bathroom facilities with secure space for practical training outside, the new training hub, when not in use by Winvic, will be available to local FE colleges and third-party providers to utilise.
The Mercia Park scheme near junction 11 of the M42 is to be home to a new 2.94 million sq ft global logistics hub for Jaguar Land Rover and a 500,000 sq ft facility for global transport and logistics company DSV.
A £350,000 community fund has already been launched as part of IM Properties’ commitment to social value.
Kerry Amory, IM Properties’ social value manager said it’s now great to start on delivering on employment & skills.
“We’re really pleased to see the training centre finally in action after a long wait during the pandemic for onsite training to return. We know the difference a bespoke facility will make, having witnessed the positive results on our other Leicestershire scheme, Hinckley Park.
“We’ve drawn on our experience from Hinckley to enhance the employment and skills opportunities at Mercia, which is crucial to us as a business and industry and integral to the delivery of Mercia Park.
“Our values are shared not only by our supply chain but Winvic Construction’s too, with TSM, its Traffic Safety Management company, hiring the trainee operative now on site.”
Kerry added: “We are currently in discussions with local FE colleges and third-party training providers to encourage them to use the new facility and have two further courses booked later in September.
Local schools can also arrange site visits which really help children to realise the many potential roles in the sector. As the pop-up training facility is only here for the next 10 months or so we would urge anyone interested in booking the facility to get in touch.”
It’s anticipated the new facility will be utilised to provide practical training from traffic management to groundworks, steelworks and health and safety.
Danny Nelson, Winvic’s director for industrial, distribution and logistics said: “It’s a real celebration that we were able to welcome the first learners to Mercia Park and that all seven got jobs.
“It’s clear that when it comes to construction, the mix of classroom and onsite training provides a massive boost and we were delighted to play a part in this in partnership with IM Properties as part of our commitment to social value.”
Helen Madden at Vocation Training who provided the course said the new Future of Construction Training Centre was the best they’d ever had access to.
“It’s an amazing facility and provides a good-sized outdoor space which allows for real-life working conditions to be assembled and practical scenarios carried out, enabling individuals to get the experience of a live construction site environment.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about how to book the Future of Construction Training Centre should contact mercia.park@yourtraininghub.co.uk
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