- The labour supply firm plans to teach up to 400 students during the first year
- Hercules said the academy will improve the construction sector skills shortage
AIM-listed labour supplier Hercules Site Services has opened a construction skills academy to train recruits for work on major British infrastructure projects.
The labour supply specialist plans to teach up to 400 students during the first year at the academy in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, approximately 15 miles from the site of the proposed HS2 high-speed railway line.
Hercules said the new school will help improve the skills shortage impacting the UK construction industry, which requires an extra 225,000 workers by 2027 to satisfy demand, according to a recent report by the CITB.
Launch: Hercules Site Services plans to teach up to 400 students during the first year at a new construction academy in Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Entrants will be able to study health and safety courses, T-levels, national vocational qualifications and degree-level apprenticeships.
They can also take specialist courses on highways, overhead powerline awareness, utility detection and working at height.
Informal learning organisation the National Open College Network, the Construction Industry Training Board and the Energy & Utility Skills Register will accredit the qualifications.
Commenting on the launch, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon MP said: ‘We are building a skills and apprenticeships nation, Hercules Construction Academy will enable more people to gain the skills and experience they need to build a successful career in the construction industry, while ensuring the sector can continue to tap into the talent pipeline they need.
‘I’m also delighted it will expand access to more Degree Level Apprenticeship opportunities, allowing people of all backgrounds to earn while they learn without the student debt and climb the ladder of opportunity.’
The academy will also train staff to work on current major projects, including HS2, the Lower Thames Crossing and the £96billion of infrastructure improvements planned by the UK water sector between 2025 and 2030.
Brusk Korkmaz, chief executive and founder of Hercules, said the ‘landmark launch represents an incredibly exciting time for Hercules and the wider industry.
He added: ‘We recognise the rapidly changing training and skills landscape, and we believe we can deliver the very best in construction training throughout the UK.’
MP for Nuneaton Marcus Jones said: ‘I know this project will take on hundreds of entrants in the next few years and train and upskill applicants who will go onto important careers in construction and infrastructure.’
The academy’s launch comes about a fortnight after Hercules reported annual revenue jumped by 71 per cent to a record £84.7million thanks to solid growth by its labour supply business.
Hercules gained prominent clients during the period, such as water company Anglian Water and building firms Galliford Try and Balfour Beatty.
In October, it won a five-year contract from Balfour Beatty Rail to provide specialist staff for work on live tracks.
This helped the Cirencester-based group deliver record earnings before nasties of £4.1million and almost quadruple pre-tax profits to £641,000.
Since the end of September, Hercules has finalised its first-ever acquisition, buying a majority stake in white-collar recruiter Future Build Recruitment.
Hercules Site Services shares were 0.4 per cent higher at 26.6p on early Wednesday afternoon, although they have plunged by just under half since listing on the junior AIM market two years ago.
