Mayor boosts construction skills for Londoners with new academy

Photo: Lendlease, Southwark Construction Skills Centre

More Londoners will be able to acquire the crucial skills they need to access jobs in the capital’s construction sector as the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has officially launched his new Construction Academy.

The Mayor’s Construction Academy has been developed with the support of construction employers, industry experts and skills providers to close the gap between the need for more homes and the shortage of skilled construction workers. Rather than a single centre, the Academy is a network of construction skills providers across London which will work closely together and with construction employers.

Dan Labbad, CEO, International Operations, Lendlease said:

“Closing the construction skills gap is one of the biggest challenges our industry faces and Lendlease is committed to playing its part. Since setting up the Southwark Construction Skills Centre in partnership with Southwark Council and Sigma Group two years ago we have provided construction training for more than 4,000 people. Being recognised by the Mayor of London’s Construction Academy programme is a terrific endorsement and we look forward to working with the Mayor to continue tackling this issue so that we have the skills to build the future that London needs. There are lots of interesting careers in construction for both women and men and it’s an exciting time to begin a career in what is such a varied industry.”