CITB agrees to sell off National Construction College to Wallsall College

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CITB have agreed to sell off the National Construction College (NCC) facility based at King’s Norton to Wallsall College in a deal that is the first of many sell off’s by CITB as it looks to raise funds and concentrate on delivering improved skills outcomes for all construction employers.

The sale includes the land, buildings and business, with all 17 staff members being transferred over as employees of Walsall College.

An experienced construction skills provider, Walsall College will look to further develop a comprehensive offer for apprentices and work-based leaners that takes them from basic to advanced skills training in sector specialisms including scaffolding and roofing.

The sale of the college by CITB is part of its Vision 2020 programme. Reforms include handing over direct training to alternative providers who can offer a service at least as good as that which is currently in place. This allows CITB to focus on delivering improved skills outcomes for all construction employers across Great Britain.

Braden Connolly, CITB Director of Products and Services, said: “Walsall College is an excellent Further Education provider with a strong track record and links to employers all over the region. This landmark agreement will secure a bright future for high quality construction training provision for industry in the Midlands, with commitments to maintain and develop existing training and with no redundancies from the sale.

“It also marks the first of our four National Construction College facilities across the country to be sold to an alternative training provider, as part of our programme to reform CITB to better serve the sector for the future.”

Jatinder Sharma, Walsall College’s Principal and Chief Executive, said: “This acquisition takes the college in a new direction for which we are ideally situated. It utilises our expertise in key areas, while enabling us to increase the level and breadth of our provision.

“Construction and infrastructure are priority areas for economic recovery in the West Midlands. The emphasis really must be on how we widen our support for local employers and their workforces; ensuring they access the right skills to accelerate the pace of these new builds and redevelopments.

“We look forward to getting started.”