Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, recently visited RMF Construction in Dickens Heath where the company work in partnership with Solihull College & University Centre to train unemployed adults in a variety of construction roles.
The visit gave the opportunity for Mayor Andy Street and Professor Helen Higson, Chair of the GBSLEP Employment and Skills Board to take a look at learners using the state-of-the-art facilities and plant equipment on site. The plant equipment was part funded by a grant from the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) – recognising the need for learners to finish their training industry-ready.
The training has already transformed the lives of many of the region’s residents. The College and RMF are working to fill skills gaps on large infrastructure projects with a workforce that is trained locally and from socially inclusive backgrounds, all the while highlighting the benefits of collaboration within the region.
Alongside members of the team from RMF, the visitors were also joined by Principal of Solihull College & University Centre, John Callaghan, who stated: “Our partnership with RMF Construction Training Academy has enabled us to provide a fantastic training opportunity on a 22–acre site using the plant that new workers will encounter when they start work. We have a unique opportunity in the region to develop the right training and skills so our students can then move onto the significant infrastructure projects such as HS2, Metro Line, and the Commonwealth Games and be ready for the future projects planned in the West Midlands and beyond.”
