Construction training centre gearing itself up for royal visit
Princess Anne is visiting the UK’s first co-funded industry-led construction school this week.
She will tour the £3m school located in the Forest of Dean and meet the staff and apprentices as well as AccXel’s business partners and local dignitaries.
Princess Anne will also meet local school pupils looking to work in construction, observe construction and plant operations and experiment with AccXel’s state-of-the-art simulation technology.
Nicola Bird, the founder and chief executive of AccXel, said “We are honoured to be welcoming HRH The Princess Royal to our school and to showcase employer-led education, creating life-long careers and inspiring the next generation of construction professionals.”
Since opening in January 2022, AccXel has created over 70 jobs for local people, and given over 150 people the opportunity to advance their careers in construction.
The centre is due to create an annual 64 career starting opportunities through their apprenticeship programmes starting in September 2023.
AccXel has secured partnerships with industry giants and local and national construction companies, who have pledged to employ AccXel apprentices or to upskill their existing workforce at the facility. The pioneering employer-led, practical approach to education provides the industry with a scalable solution to the crippling skills crisis.
The Forest of Dean based AccXel mirrors the philosophy of the allied construction company K W Bell Group Ltd, in supporting the local community through AccXel sharing its facilities for community use.
Natalie King, Operations Director at AccXel, said: “One of AccXel’s objectives is to connect the industry to enforce real change. Improving diversity and inclusion is just one of the many ways we want to change construction. Through working in collaboration with our extensive partner network, we believe we can improve diversity and raise awareness of the opportunities for all.”
