A new construction training facility in West Cumbria aims to provide an alternate pathway to employment for young people.
Aspire Academy Cumbria has announced a dedicated construction training programme.
Based at West Lakes Science Park, at Moor Row, near Whitehaven, the academy will provide young people excluded from mainstream education with an opportunity to learn trade skills in a supportive, hands-on environment.
Rachel Holliday, co-founder of Aspire Academy Cumbria, said: “Students need to learn skills in the environment they will be working in, and construction is generally outside in the elements! I believe the Aspire students will acquire all the skills they need to enter the employment of their choice.
“Students at West Cumbria Learning Centre have faced many obstacles in their education. Aspire is a solution not only for these students who deserve this opportunity but also for addressing the local skills gap we currently face in West Cumbria.”
Danny Gee, Aspire Academy Cumbria’s co-founder and head of West Cumbria Learning Centre, said: “Many young people with much to offer are not best suited to a traditional mainstream classroom-based education.
“The Aspire Academy aims to enable local young people to embrace the fantastic opportunities open to them.
“By working closely with West Cumbria Learning Centre and young people who have been permanently excluded or are at risk of exclusion, we will support their successful access to training and meaningful employment.”
With a focus on practical learning, Aspire Academy Cumbria is designed to equip students with the essential skills they need to enter the construction industry and secure future employment.
William King, the third co-founder of Aspire Academy Cumbria, brings a personal perspective to the project; he owns a successful construction firm and advocates for trade apprenticeships.
He said: “Growing up in this area, I understand the challenges our youth face. As a bricklayer by trade, my apprenticeship was a turning point that kept me from unemployment and set me on a successful path.
“Today, our company employs 60 local men and women, ranging from tradesmen to engineers, H&S, and quality professionals. This demonstrates that hard work and acquiring a trade can open countless doors. I am committed to helping disadvantaged young people find their footing in the construction industry and achieve their full potential.”
