Winvic and IM launch Future of Construction Training Centre

Winvic Construction and its longstanding client, IM Properties, have welcomed the first learners inside its new ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre.

The Centre, located at Mercia Park in Leicestershire UK, focuses on accelerating training and employment opportunities.

It comprises an onsite construction training facility with practical outdoor space, which is not only available for Winvic and its subcontractors, but also colleges, universities and specialist training providers in the construction industry.

All seven participants on the inaugural traffic management training course were offered employment with various traffic management contractors.

Developer IM Properties has provided the land at its Mercia Park site while Winvic has funded the on-site Training Centre as part of their social value commitments, ensuring the development has a positive impact on surrounding communities.

The first vocational course to launch the Training Centre was facilitated by traffic management training specialist Vocation Training Ltd with support to deliver technical qualifications from Up To Speed Training and Assessment, and practical assessments from TSM, who is one of Winvic’s traffic management subcontractors. The participants were trained over a four-week period and one of the job roles offered – a Trainee Operative position accepted by Anthony Land – is with TSM at Mercia Park.

The construction training facility comprises classroom, kitchen and bathroom facilities in addition to a significant, flexible outside space where a wide range of practical training can be undertaken.

The area is securely fenced and dedicated parking spaces means the Centre can be used safely and independently of the construction works. Nevertheless, due to it being adjacent to the site, access can be granted to enhance training course learnings.

The outdoor space enables contractors and training providers to set up practical training scenarios as opposed to relying on models and videos to teach – from traffic management to health and safety, from groundworks to steelworks – while the classroom environment can accommodate approximately 10 people for theoretical training.

Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Director for Industrial, Distribution & Logistics, said the bespoke facility is part of its commitment to the local community and the fact seven trainees secured positions shows that the outcomes can be quantifiable and people can benefit from the construction work happening nearby to their homes.

“We’re currently speaking to local and regional education and training providers about making use of the Centre and we have a number of our subcontractors lined up, excited to have a significant and flexible space at their disposal to deliver practical and theoretical training. Construction and vocational training go hand-in-hand – as we know through the apprenticeship and Year In Industry placements we offer – and we believe this Centre is a glimpse into the future how the industry will gain the skilled people it needs.”

Kerry Amory, IM Properties’ social value manager, said it was really pleased to see the training centre finally in action after a long wait during the pandemic for onsite training to return.

"We know the difference a bespoke facility will make, having witnessed the positive results on our other Leicestershire scheme, Hinckley Park," she said. "We’ve drawn on our experience from Hinckley to enhance the employment and skills opportunities at Mercia, which is crucial to us as a business and industry and integral to the delivery of Mercia Park.

“Our values are shared not only by our supply chain but Winvic Construction’s too, with TSM, its Traffic Safety Management company, hiring the trainee operative now on site. We are currently in discussions with local FE colleges and third-party training providers to encourage them to use the new facility and have two further courses booked later in September. We would urge anyone interested in booking the facility to get in touch.”

Helen Madden, at Vocation Training, said the centre is a much needed, flexible space that is perfect for a wide range of hands-on and classroom based training courses.

Another attribute is its access to outdoor space, allowing for real-life working conditions to be assembled and practical scenarios carried out, and also because candidates get to experience the feel of a live construction site environment.

"It was clear that this hugely benefitted the traffic management training participants over the course of the training and it’s great news that all seven of them gained employment," she said.

Richard Turbill, Operations Director at TSM, added: “We have been working as one of Winvic’s subcontractor partners for seven years and we feel honoured to have been part of the launch of the Mercia Park ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre. Delivering the training was straightforward and efficient because the outdoor area is so spacious, and all the participants were able to get hands-on and therefore learn more quickly. 

Winvic delivered vast civils and infrastructure works to facilitate the 238-acre employment park and is now constructing 2.94 million sq ft global parts logistics centre for Jaguar Land Rover and 550,000 sq ft facility comprising a modern warehouse, cross-dock and offices for global transport and logistics company DSV. Six cameras are positioned round Mercia Park; the projects’ progress can be viewed on Winvic Live.