A COLLEGE trying to close the skills gap in East Lancashire is to set up a specialised construction academy.

Blackburn College has been awarded £99,750 to develop an Environmental Construction Careers and Skills Academy at Blackburn College’s campus in Blackburn.

The academy will provide cutting edge facilities for students to study environmental technologies and construction including electrical, gas, plumbing, and bricklaying.

The Feilden Street college, which boasts a £65million student campus, will work with local companies, including Calico Group in Burnley and EU Eco Technologies in Accrington, to create 50 scholarships with the opportunity to secure employment.

The programme includes recruiting four Master Trade technicians to work with students so they are not only skilled, but work-ready.

Dr Thomas Moore, principal and chief executive of Blackburn College, said: “We know local infrastructure projects are going to demand a five per cent increase in construction employment in Lancashire in the next five years.

“This grant will allow us to equip 250 young people, aged 16 to 24, with the skills and experience the industry is crying out for.”

More than 190 applications were submitted for the Edge Foundation Grant Fund and Blackburn College were one of just 12 applicants who were successful and shared a total of £1million.

Successful applications to the fund had to address areas of skills shortages in the UK and support the development of high quality apprenticeships, particularly at higher levels.

Edge chief executive, Alice Barnard, said: “We had a huge number of applications from across the UK, but Blackburn College’s stood out.”

Edge is an independent education charity, which campaigns for young people to have equal access to different pathways including apprenticeships and higher education.

Ms Barnard added: “What students learn at the Skills Academy will equip them, not just for jobs now, but long-term careers in the future.”

Plans have been made to upgrade the current facilities for the new academy by the end of August.