Home > News > March 2006 > 29-Mar-2006

Chancellor launches skills initiative at power station

Partners in a new construction training initiative welcomed the chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown, secretary of state for education Ruth Kelly and education minister Bill Rammell to the Battersea Power Station regeneration on the day the government launched its new skills White Paper.

The three ministers were at the Power Station to see for themselves the joint venture between developers Parkview International, their construction manager Bovis Lend Lease, the Learning and Skills Council, Lambeth College and Wandsworth Council to provide onsite training for students learning building skills.

A training centre has been set up at the development with the aim of providing students in building and construction with practical 'real environment' experience. The centre was established with funding from the Learning and Skills Council.

Managed by Lambeth College, the training will cover a wide range of building and construction skills including heritage bricklaying. These skills are expected to be in heavy demand on site when the work begins on the restoration and preservation of the iconic Power Station building this summer.

It is forecast that construction on the 38 acre Power Station site will involve some 3,000 jobs. Last summer the minister for works and pensions, David Blunkett opened the Power Station Job Shop, a local employment scheme which aims to ensure that as many as possible of the jobs created by the project go to people living within the immediate locality.

Alongside the restoration of the Power Station, the project also includes the building of two hotels, office accommodation, a 2000+ seat auditorium and residential units.

Talking about the ministerial visit, Parkview president Victor Hwang said: "We were delighted to welcome Gordon Brown, Ruth Kelly and Bill Rammell to see for themselves the results of this unique joint venture. Like the Job Shop it shows how the public and private sectors can work together in urban regeneration for mutual benefit."

Speaking at Monday's event the chancellor of the exchequer, Gordon Brown, said: "Thank you for inviting us here for the launch of the Further Education White Paper. This is exactly the sort of project that we want to see more of - one which develops the skills of young people and adults, and where employers are investing in their workforces. I would like to thank Lambeth College, Job Centre Plus, Bovis Lendlease and Parkview International and look forward to visiting you all in a few years time when this project is complete."

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