BTP Cumbria have a purpose-built construction training centre within five minutes’ walk of Carlisle Railway Station, and they are hoping to train workers ready for the influx of construction work planned in the area.
Formed as Barrow Training Partnership Ltd in 2004, they have trained more than 5,000 construction workers throughout Cumbria during that time.
Their new centre has the capacity to train up to 50 people at any one time, has a large workshop and over an acre of outdoor space so is capable of accommodating whatever training the industry are going to need as it attempts to train enough people to meet demand.
Having predominantly been involved in training existing construction workers over the past few years they are now looking to expand more into training those who want to enter the industry for example school leavers, those who are looking for a change of career and those who have been made redundant.
With the impact on jobs caused by Brexit and the coronavirus, training those who have been made redundant could keep them particularly busy, especially the construction industry which is currently very buoyant and has a skills shortage.
Speaking after the visit, John commented, ‘It was great to meet Keith and the team at the BTP training centre right here in Carlisle. Equipping young people and job seekers with the right skills for the jobs available now and in the future is the key to growing our local economy and it was wonderful to hear of BTP’s aspiration to deliver more courses and their plans for expansion of the site.”
Keith Dymond, Director of BTP Cumbria said “Having been involved in training new entrants in construction for nearly 40 years now and one of the biggest problems I’ve found is getting the learners to the place of learning for a start time akin to what is expected in industry. Most are either too young to drive or cannot afford lessons or buy their own vehicle. Given the geography of Cumbria and Southern Scotland, the siting of our new centre will make it easily accessible as it is just a short walk after getting off the train”.
For further details go to www.btp-cumbria.co.uk