Croydon sets up scheme to battle skills shortage

Croydon Council wants its contractors’ most experienced trades people to pass on their skills to students at Croydon College.

In an effort to solve the skills crisis in south London, workers on Croydon Council’s projects will be trained in classroom techniques to give them the confidence to teach students of all ages and abilities to become the next generation of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, painters and decorators.

The “new blue collar lecturers” (as the council calls them) will be shadowed by qualified lecturers and will need to be cleared to work with young people.

Croydon College head of science and technology David Lewin said: “At the very time that the building industry is calling out for skilled trades people, colleges are unable to provide the tuition because there aren’t enough tutors.”

Those contractors who supply staff to the Tutors for Construction Trades Scheme “will be assured of a substantial early advantage in the town hall tendering process”, according to the council. Croydon Council spends £60m a year on capital building and housing work.
Wates has already signed up to the scheme.