LSBU leads south London alliance supporting Mayor's new construction skills academy
London South Bank University has been nominated to lead a strategic alliance of three South London boroughs supporting the Mayor's construction skills hubLondon South Bank University (LSBU) has been nominated (Friday 25 January) to lead a strategic South London alliance, comprised of three neighbouring boroughs – Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham - in support of the Mayor of London's construction skills hub. Together the alliance is responsible for running one of seven new business hubs for the Mayor of London’s Construction Academy (MCA).
The seven nominees were announced during a photo-call at City hall with Deputy Mayor of London, Jules Pipe.
LSBU worked closely with key delivery partner Southwark Construction Skills Centre to win the bid, which was also supported by Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham Councils.
LSBU is the only higher education institution in the Capital to have been nominated as a skills training and employment hub partner by the MCA.
Responding to the good news, David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of LSBU said: "I am delighted that LSBU has been selected as one of seven institutions given the responsibility of spearheading this South London alliance with three boroughs to run the Mayor’s Construction Academy.
"The Academy will help to create much-needed opportunities for construction skills training providers and employers, encouraging them to collaborate with one another to provide high quality training and jobs in the sector.
“An additional benefit is the new MCA accreditation accompanying the construction skills training which will ensure that training provision meets employer needs.”
Three South London boroughs have responded favourably to the good news about LSBU’s appointment as one of the new construction skills training hubs: Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark.
Cllr Kieron Williams, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Innovation, said: “This backing from the Mayor is fantastic news. There are dozens of great careers in the construction industry, including many with an acute shortage of qualified people. This hub will make sure our residents can get the best of them. It brings together the outstanding training providers in our boroughs, including LSBU and the Southwark Construction Skills Centre, to make it easier to get a good job in the sector and to progress to a great one. So whether you’re looking to upskill in a traditional building trade, modern construction methods, quantity surveying, engineering or project management, the support and training you need will be there for you.”
Councillor Joe Dromey, Cabinet Member for Finance, Skills and Jobs at Lewisham Council, said: “This is fantastic news for our community. London faces a chronic and growing housing crisis, and the construction sector in the capital faces a severe skills shortage.
“We are working with the Mayor of London to build the homes that our community needs, including 1,000 social homes by 2022. The Mayor’s Construction Academy will help address the construction skills crisis, and just as importantly, it will ensure that local people can access high quality training and employment opportunities.”
Cllr Jack Hopkins, Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council (Jobs, Skills and Performance), said: “This is excellent news for our local young people, who’ll now have life-changing opportunities to learn the skills they need to get into the construction industry – and to get all the support they’ll need to develop their careers to their full potential.
“But the Construction Skills Academy will have wider benefits, at a time when construction, housing and the economy as a whole are in need of an urgent boost. Addressing the skills shortage is the best way to do this.”
Read more about the Mayor of London's Construction Academy.