New construction skills academy opens at Gwel Bassett

A new construction skills academy is welcoming its first cohort of 10 students in Redruth as part of Treveth’s 185-home Gwel Bassett project being built by Regeneration specialists Vistry Partnerships.

The Gwel Bassett Academy in Redruth is the 11th Academy to be opened by Vistry Partnerships in the region since 2017. It is based around the Gwel Bassett development at Tolgus near Redruth, and will see Vistry Partnerships working with expert training providers Train4All to run a broad range of courses from April 2022.

The Academy is an innovative programme designed to combat the nationwide skills shortage affecting the construction industry. With support from local suppliers; Sunbelt Rentals, Fred Champions Groundworks, WAVE Services SW Ltd; the Gwel Bassett Academy is equipped with everything the learners need to bring their training to life.

The new centre will provide training, work placements, apprenticeships and full-time employment, designed to encourage local people who are currently unemployed, or are looking for a career change, to get into the construction industry.

The Skills Academy training courses are designed to give learners basic theoretical and practical training on a ‘live’ construction site, as well as work experience placements, site visits and careers advice.

Treveth’s Gwel Bassett development provides an ideal learning opportunity. It is set to be one of the greenest residential projects of its kind in the UK after being designed to achieve challenging carbon emissions targets set for 2030.

Learners are based in an on-site classroom studying construction theory and completing practical demonstrations before spending time with Partnerships’ subcontractors to further develop their practical skills through work experience placements.

Charlotte Olver, Head of Social Value for Vistry Group, said: “The introduction of this brand new Gwel Bassett Skills Academy in Redruth is another great resource for the South West, offering local people in the community a fantastic opportunity to gain employment in a sector close to where they live. To be able to watch the learners thrive as they successfully complete their course and move into employment in the construction industry is a true testament to the great work being done at our academies up and down the country.”

Vistry Partnerships’ managing director for the South West, Peter Sadler, said: “Due to the skills shortage within the construction sector, we are helping to facilitate more people into a career in construction.

“Our industry offers an extensive range of rewarding careers, and we want to offer more people the opportunity to experience them first-hand. We are passionate about creating sustainable communities as well as addressing the industry skills shortage and our Community & Skills Academies are the perfect platform to do so.”

Tim Mulholland, Treveth managing director, said: “Treveth is breaking new ground in Cornwall with the sustainability of our developments, the way these are targeted at people with a local connection and their wider role as a force for good in their local communities. The Gwel Bassett Academy is an integral part of our work with Vistry Partnerships at Tolgus. It will help maximise the value of this scheme, generate employment and skills opportunities and leave a positive, lasting legacy socially and economically. We’re delighted to see it under way.”