Hercules Site Services plc (LON:HERC), a leading technology enabled labour supply company for the UK infrastructure and construction sectors, has announced the opening of the Hercules Construction Academy today.
The Academy, situated in the market town of Nuneaton, West Midlands, plans to train up to 400 new entrants in its first year, going on to upskill and educate thousands of workers over the coming years.
The Academy will initially employ eight members of staff and provide a range of courses. Qualifications offered include health and safety courses, NVQs, T-levels and degree-level apprenticeships, as well as specialist courses in utility detection, working at height, overhead powerline awareness, highways, and other bespoke industry courses.
The qualifications will be accredited by The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the industry training board for the UK construction industry, as well as the National Open College Network and the Energy & Utility Skills Register.
The CITB, as part of its Construction Skills Network report, has forecasted that an additional 225,000 workers will be needed by the industry by 2027 to meet demand.
The Academy will help address this skills shortage and ultimately benefit major infrastructure and construction projects across the UK, including the likes of HS2, the planned AMP8 water sector infrastructure works, Highways England projects and proposed mega-projects like the Lower Thames Crossing as well as renewable energy and nuclear energy infrastructure.
The Hercules Construction Academy is situated next to Birmingham and Coventry, where some of the region’s major infrastructure and construction projects, including HS2, are situated. The location also gives Hercules a base in the heart of the middle of the UK.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:
“It’s fantastic to see key employers like Hercules offering gold standard T-Levels, alongside high-quality apprenticeships, and other qualifications.
“We are building a skills and apprenticeships nation, Hercules Construction Academy will enable more people to gain the skills and experience they need to build a successful career in the construction industry, while ensuring the sector can continue to tap into the talent pipeline they need.
“I’m also delighted it will expand access to more Degree Level Apprenticeship opportunities, allowing people of all backgrounds to earn while they learn without the student debt and climb the ladder of opportunity.”
Julie Venn Morton, HS2’s Ltd’s Senior Legacy Manager for the West Midlands region said:
“We welcome the arrival of the Hercules Construction Academy, which will play an important role in upskilling local people ready for work in the construction sector.
“In the months ahead, construction of the two new HS2 stations and the network control centre will really start to take shape, creating hundreds more local job opportunities.”
Rt Hon Marcus Jones MP, MP for Nuneaton, said:
“I am so pleased the Hercules Construction Academy is being launched in Nuneaton.
“The Hercules Academy based here in Nuneaton offers a diverse range of accredited courses to help aspiring professionals and equip industry roles.
“I have always advocated practical training experience and I know this purpose built environment will enable that.
“I know this project will take on hundreds of entrants in the next few years and train and upskill applicants who will go onto important careers in construction and infrastructure.
“I wish Hercules and the Hercules Construction Academy every success.”
Cllr Martin Watson, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy, said: “It’s fantastic news for Warwickshire that the Hercules Construction Academy is now accepting students significantly boosting the opportunities for our residents to explore a career in construction.
“Hercules offer an impressive selection of courses which will complement the needs of the industry and our local businesses.”
Brusk Korkmaz, CEO of Hercules Site Services, said: “This landmark launch represents an incredibly exciting time for Hercules and the wider industry. We recognise the rapidly changing training and skills landscape and we believe we can deliver the very best in construction training throughout the UK.
“Hercules prides itself in taking an innovative approach to providing labour and support services to the infrastructure and construction industries, something which we have been doing since 2008. And I am proud to support the next generation of learners into our academy and beyond, where we plan to recruit some of the learners into our Labour Supply and Construction Services divisions.
“Attendees of the Hercules Construction Academy will learn from lecturers with extensive hands-on and real-world experience of the industry, whilst our location and connections throughout the sector mean learners will be extremely well placed to secure employment and others will return to their employers with enhanced skill sets.”
