Employment opportunities on major Birmingham development site
Local people have the chance to learn valuable construction skills while helping to build Birmingham city centre's latest residential skyscraper.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has handed £100,000 of its adult education budget to construction firm John Sisk & Son so it can run a Skills Centre hub, offering local people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview at the end of the 20-day course.
Over the last two years, the previous training hub operated by John Sisk & Son at Moda Living's 433ft tall Mercian tower in nearby Broad Street, created 140 job opportunities for local residents.
The new hub at Moda Living's Great Charles Street development, is expected to create a further 106 construction jobs, with roles including apprenticeships, graduate positions and general operatives.
The hub is located on site at the Great Charles Street development which is located in the city's Jewellery Quarter and close to Snow Hill Station.
The scheme is set to transform a former council car park into 722 homes for rent, with a range of one, two and three-bed apartments, as well as resident amenities including a gym and cinema room. It will feature three blocks, ranging in height from six to 39 stories.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “One of our key tasks as a region is to equip local people with the skills they need to succeed - providing them with a pathway into high quality job opportunities close to home.
“Our £100,000 WMCA investment in this training hub doubles down on our commitment to foster job creation and skill development in the months and years ahead.
“Our collective efforts empower local communities, maximise employment prospects and support economic growth right across our region. Together, we're not just building structures - we're building a brighter future for local people and our region as a whole.”
The Great Charles Street site has remained undeveloped for more than 70 years and will create around 470 new jobs, which includes employment from the skills hub partnership with the WMCA and local partners, with the aim of maximising local employment and training opportunities.
Tyan Lynvest, 24, who grew up in Birmingham, said: “Prior to this, I was doing a lot of IT, background acting and warehouse work, but I really wanted to get into construction. The construction scheme has given me a lot of stability, this is something I actually want to do, and I've been spoilt for choice with the opportunities this has given me.
“For anyone who is thinking of getting into construction, go for it, especially the women, there's plenty of jobs that don't involve lifting, anyone can do it.”
The development, designed by Ryder Architecture, is due for completion in 2025, and is expected to contribute £92 million in economic value to the West Midlands region.
To finance the West Midlands training hubs, the WMCA has invested funding through the Adult Education Budget as part of the latest government devolution agreement.
Key flagship projects such as Curzon Street and Smithfield have committed to training hubs for 2023/2024, while live training hubs are operational at Kingshurst in Solihull and John Sisk in Birmingham.
Click here to sign up for construction training or contact the National Careers Service West Midlands on 0800 100 900.
Pictured from left to right: Thomas Shirley, Nauman Chickley, Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, Sairan Mohammadi, James Blakey, Planning Director, Moda, Tyan Lynvest, Samuel West and Harry Davies at the Great Charles Street development site