Students build successful careers at London's newest technical college
London’s newest college, London South Bank Technical College, was officially opened by Secretary for State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP on 26 June 2023. The £100million college in Nine Elms teaches advanced technical skills to over 2,000 students through courses including construction, robotics and healthcare, in state-of-the-art facilities.
At the launch, London South Bank Technical College and Lee Marley (a leading UK brickwork, stone and scaffold company) announced a new partnership to train apprentices in construction skills:
- 12 London South Bank Technical College students will start their Lee Marley apprenticeships in September 2023 and 12 more in November 2023. We aim to have 150 apprentices on this programme by 2027.
- London South Bank Technical College will have over 1000 apprenticeship places available by 2026. The new college’s links to major employers and London South Bank University (LSBU) will ensure the thousands of London South Bank Technical College students help to fill technology, construction, engineering and maths skills shortages.
- Lee Marley is the UK’s leading masonry subcontractor for brickwork, scaffolding, stonework and has worked on major projects including Crossrail and London 2012 Athletes Village.
Skills shortages in the construction sector are expected to mean an extra 225,000 construction workers are needed in the UK by 2027, according to the Construction Skills Network report and 26,000 additional construction workers will be needed in London by 2026.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “This phenomenal new technical college will offer people in South London fantastic training opportunities whilst giving businesses the skills they need to grow. It is great to be back to open the state-of-the-art facilities, after only two years since I attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The courses and apprenticeships will be vital for creating a pipeline of talent for business - benefitting major projects in the capital, in sectors such as construction, digital, robotics and healthcare.”
Fiona Morey, South Bank Colleges’ Executive Principal, said:
“Our new London South Bank Technical College is working with leading employers to give thousands of our students the high-tech skills that will support London in meeting the demand for good jobs in the science, technology, engineering and sectors. That’s why we have signed this important deal with Lee Marley which will see 24 London South Bank Technical College apprentices from November 2023 learning the advanced skills they need for successful careers in the construction industry.”
Dan Clarkson, Lee Marley Chief Operating Officer, said: “I am delighted in launching this unique apprenticeship programme with London South Bank Technical College. Our apprentices will have access to fantastic facilities at the College and a tailored curriculum taught by highly experienced in-house trainers which is then complimented by on-the-job work experience on Lee Marley’s major construction projects across London. Our apprentices will work to industry-leading standards in a safe and supported environment and will benefit from the coaching and mentoring Lee Marley provides to ensure they are able to build long-term careers in construction. This is an exemplar public-private partnership that is meeting the construction skills crisis head-on.”
Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, London's Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, said, “It was fantastic to attend the opening of London South Bank Technical College and see first-hand how the Mayor’s investment in London’s college estates is having a transformational impact on Londoners. Access to state of the art learning environments, like this new campus in Lambeth, is equipping Londoners who otherwise may not have pursued careers in the STEAM sector, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to progress into the great jobs and careers that London has to offer.”
Cllr Claire Holland, the Leader of Lambeth Council, said: “I welcome the opening of this new technical college as it will provide important training and careers opportunities for our young people, and those looking to further develop their skill set to succeed in the job market. The breadth of courses that will be on offer reflects the needs of employers in growing sectors of our economy. At a time where we are on the cusp of the transition to the low-carbon economy of the future, this college will play a key role in enabling Lambeth residents to secure well paid jobs now and into the future.”
London South Bank Technical College is being built in two phases:
- 2023 – Phase 1 (£50million) opens a new college building which will teach science, technology, engineering, arts and maths courses.
- 2025 – Phase 2 (£50million) will open two new college buildings for health, life sciences and business courses.
London South Bank Technical College has been supported by funding from the Greater London Authority as well as the UK Government. It has been joint-funded by a £21 million grant from the Mayor of London’s Skills for Londoners Capital Fund, through the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP).
London South Bank Technical College is part of LSBU Group, a unique and growing partnership of education providers in south London. LSBU Group is made up of five education providers and was created in 2019 after London South Bank University oversaw the first merger of its kind between a university and college.