Training and employment opportunities through construction of Birmingham’s latest skyscraper

People are being offered the chance to learn valuable construction skills while helping to build Birmingham city centre’s latest residential skyscraper.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has handed £100,000 of its adult education budget to construction firm John Sisk & Son so it can run a skills centre hub, offering local people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview at the end of the 20-day course.

Over the last two years, the previous training hub operated by John Sisk & Son at Moda Living’s 433ft tall Mercian tower in nearby Broad Street, created 140 job opportunities for local residents.

The new hub at Moda Living’s Great Charles Street development, is expected to create a further 106 construction jobs, with roles including apprenticeships, graduate positions and general operatives.

The hub is located on site at the Great Charles Street development which is located in the city’s Jewellery Quarter and close to Snow Hill Station

The scheme is set to transform a former council car park into 722 homes for rent, with a range of one, two and three-bed apartments, as well as resident amenities including a gym and cinema room. It will feature three blocks, ranging in height from six to 39 stories.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “One of our key tasks as a region is to equip local people with the skills they need to succeed – providing them with a pathway into high quality job opportunities close to home.

“That’s why it’s great to see Moda Living and John Sisk – the forces behind The Mercian on Broad Street and now the much awaited rejuvenation of the long derelict ‘Bomb Site’ off Great Charles Street – collaborating again to continue creating opportunities for residents to gain invaluable construction skills. Our £100,000 WMCA investment in this training hub doubles down on our commitment to foster job creation and skill development in the months and years ahead.

“Our collective efforts empower local communities, maximise employment prospects and support economic growth right across our region. Together, we’re not just building structures – we’re building a brighter future for local people and our region as a whole.”

Cllr George Duggins, leader of Coventry City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for productivity and skills, said “These training hubs provide an incredible opportunity for local individuals to learn practical skills that they can immediately apply on an active construction site.

“This hands-on experience not only builds their work capabilities but also earns them certifications ready for on-site work. Our aim is to ensure that the people in the West Midlands reap the rewards of investments made in our region.

“Enabling local residents to acquire the exact skills that employers require for construction roles is a vital step in ensuring that everyone gains from significant building projects like these.”

The £302m Great Charles Street scheme will also feature communal spaces, roof terraces and ground-floor units that will be available to rent as commercial spaces.

Tony Brooks, managing director, Moda Living, said: “We are proud to be helping local people once again with their training and career aspirations, something we’ve been committed to in the region since 2018.

“I’m looking forward to seeing more success stories from our Great Charles Street project, as we work with the council, Sisk and our other stakeholders to deliver this new gem of a neighbourhood to the Jewellery Quarter.”

The Great Charles Street site has remained undeveloped for more than 70 years and will create around 470 new jobs, which includes employment from the skills hub partnership with the WMCA and local partners, with the aim of maximising local employment and training opportunities.

Tyan Lynvest, 24, who grew up in Birmingham, said: “Prior to this, I was doing a lot of IT, background acting and warehouse work, but I really wanted to get into construction. The construction scheme has given me a lot of stability, this is something I actually want to do, and I’ve been spoilt for choice with the opportunities this has given me.

“For anyone who is thinking of getting into construction, go for it, especially the women, there’s plenty of jobs that don’t involve lifting, anyone can do it.”

Simon Dingle, regional project director, John Sisk & Son, said: “We are thrilled to be able to apply our successful approach once again to our Great Charles Street project. Looking ahead, we’re excited to leverage this proven model for the project, creating even more job prospects, including apprenticeships, and continuing our commitment to local communities and businesses beyond the construction phase.”

The development, designed by Ryder Architecture, is due for completion in 2025, and is expected to contribute £92m n in economic value to the West Midlands region.

The WMCA will work alongside partners at the Birmingham City Council Employment Access Team, John Sisk & Son, the National Careers Service, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Jobcentre Plus and the Department of Work and Pensions, to help maximise employment and training opportunities.

To finance the West Midlands training hubs, the WMCA has invested funding through the Adult Education Budget as part of the latest government devolution agreement.

Key flagship projects such as Curzon Street and Smithfield have committed to training hubs for 2023/2024, while live training hubs are operational at Kingshurst in Solihull and John Sisk in Birmingham.