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With the construction industry continuing to face the significant challenges of a growing demand for skilled workers and a shortage of labour, we spoke to West Suffolk College, part of the Eastern Education Group to find out more about how they’re tackling these challenges head-on.
Their industry-relevant training and close collaborations with employers, means they’re helping to make sure the next generation of construction workers are ready for the job market.
Lecturers Brian Tunbridge, Averil Young and David Warren took some time out to tell us more.
Q: Tell us about the courses you offer and how these are helping to address the most pressing skills gaps?
A: We offer a full range of construction-related courses – from carpentry, joinery, and plumbing, to construction, maintenance, heating, and ventilation. With full-time, part-time and apprenticeship options available. The courses focus on core technical skills that the industry needs, such as precision hand skills, technical proficiency, and understanding of health and safety regulations along with the softer skills needed by employers.
Our brand-new Heat Pump Centre in collaboration with Valliant offers a space to upskill existing engineers along with opportunities for new apprentices to start in 2025. We also have two start dates for apprenticeships per academic year to help employers with recruitment.
Q: How have your courses evolved to respond to the current labour shortage in the construction industry?
A: In the past 5 years, in our woodwork courses alone, the number of students enrolled has grown by 50% An increase that reflects the growing demand for skilled workers in the industry.
We work closely with employers, adapting both our curriculum and individual courses to meet employer’s specific needs. Our courses are also aligned with local and national Labour Market Information (LMI) data to meet the needs now and moving forward for large projects like Sizewell C and challenges such as the ageing construction workforce.
Q: How does West Suffolk College collaborate with local employers to ensure your courses meet industry needs?
A: We’ve got some really strong partnerships with local employers across the region, and these relationships play a key role in making sure our courses stay relevant to industry needs.
A great example is our Level 2 Technical Plumbing and Level 2 Maintenance Operations programs. Our long-standing partnerships with GasWay (for plumbing) and Flagship Group (for maintenance operations), provide both real-world work experience to our students, and opportunities for apprenticeships after successful course completion.
These employers also help to design our courses to better meet industry needs. For example, in plumbing, we recently added an environmental unit to the course and designed a bespoke course for our new Level 3 Heating and Ventilation crafts person Apprenticeship with a group of employers led by Munro Group.
We’re a seen as a trailblazer for this kind of course design.
Q: How do you help students transition from the classroom to real-world work on-site with employers?
A: Supporting students to transition from classroom learning to working on-site with employers requires a combination of practical experiences, industry engagement, and structured preparation. One of our key approaches is regular site visits to active construction sites, giving students first-hand exposure to the working environment. Typically, these include guided tours from site managers, health and safety briefings, and opportunities for students to engage with professionals about their roles and career pathways.
Employers and manufacturers often come into the college to deliver skills sessions and industry updates. We also provide students with membership of professional organisations, such as the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), which helps boost their employability. And we’re looking at giving all students in the future access to the chance of gaining a CSCS Card to make them even more work ready.
Alongside technical skills, there’s also a strong emphasis on the development of soft skills, including teamwork, communication, and professionalism so that students are equipped for the demands of the industry.
Q: What kind of upskilling opportunities do you offer for those already in the industry looking to improve their skills or advance in their careers?
A: From our Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing evening course to our close relationships with likes of World Skills, The Institute of Carpenters, and The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers we’re in a great position to help people progress in their careers.
We also offer extra courses like Water Regulations, Unvented Hot Water and Legionella to name but a few.
Q: Can you share any success stories of students who have completed your courses and gone on to secure roles in the construction industry? Or who have gone on to become employers themselves?
A: Yes, many of our former students have gone on to start their own businesses with many then taking on another of our students as an apprentice. We also have lots of employers who recruit new apprentices year on year because of the close relationships we build with them.
In the plumbing sector, we’re particularly proud that our Level 3 Plumbing and Heating Technician Apprenticeship Standard achieved a 100% pass rate for End-Point Assessments (EPA), making us one of the top colleges in the country for plumbing.
We also received a national award for our innovative use of technology in teaching plumbing during the pandemic, which shows the college’s commitment to providing top-tier education and training.
Q: How are you preparing for the future of the construction industry, particularly in areas like sustainability and digital construction?
A: The future of construction is all about innovation and sustainability, and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of these trends. We’re actively integrating new technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM), Virtual Reality (VR), and energy-efficient building practices into our training programs. Sustainability is key, and we’re already teaching students how to design and construct buildings that meet the latest environmental standards.
As the industry moves toward a greener future, we’re already looking ahead to preparing students to work with technologies such as solar PV, heat pumps, and drones, ready for the fast-paced changes in the sector.
And we run School Escalator Days where children as young as 6 join us for activities around construction and building services to get them engaged from a young age – so important for an industry that’s not seen as very glamourous to the younger generation.
Q: How does West Suffolk College support underrepresented groups to enter the property and construction sectors?
A: We actively promote inclusivity and provide opportunities for all students, regardless of their background, to thrive in the industry. Our partnerships with industry leaders help ensure that our students have access to mentors, networking opportunities, and real-world experiences, all of which help level the playing field.
We’re really proud of our ‘Building Her Future’ initiative that supports underrepresented groups, including women and individuals from diverse backgrounds, to enter the property and construction sectors. By engaging with schools, youth organisations, and community groups we provide early exposure to construction and property careers, challenging misconceptions, and highlighting opportunities beyond traditional roles.
Representatives from courses have also attended events at the House of Lords to advocate for inclusive opportunities and we’ve got strong partnerships within the industry, including involvement in the Women in Construction Anglia events.
West Suffolk College’s forward-thinking approach is playing a crucial role in addressing the skills gap and labour shortages in the construction industry. Through its collaboration with employers, its focus on real-world experience, and its commitment to inclusivity and innovation, the college is helping to shape the future of the sector and preparing the workforce for the challenges ahead.
To find out more about visit wsc.ac.uk
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