RESIDENTS looking for careers in the construction industry can benefit from more training and job opportunities following Basingstoke council being awarded with a new accredited status.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council have been granted a National Skills Academy for Construction status (NSAfC), which is part of its work to increase employment opportunities and on-the-job skill development.

Developed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and backed by the industry, the framework provides structure and direction to help organisations deliver consistent, high-quality training in the live-site environment of construction projects.

With a number of large-scale projects planned or under way, as well as its work with partners including BCoT, EBP South, Hampshire County Council, CITB and Basingstoke Jobcentre Plus, the council is committed to providing access to work experience placements, apprenticeships and jobs and to educate local students about the wide variety of career opportunities the sector offers.

Cllr Hannah Golding, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic development said that providing jobs and skill set opportunities in the borough is very important.

She said: “Improving jobs and skills opportunities in the borough is an important part of our work around economic recovery, as well as meeting our challenging climate change targets, and we are committed to working with education and training providers and industry partners to increase local opportunities.

“As an ambitious council leading on a number of large projects to shape the future of Basingstoke and Deane and in our role as the local planning authority, we have a unique opportunity to work with developers to create job opportunities, work experience, apprenticeships and qualifications for local residents.”

The new status level builds on the council’s work alongside other developers to introduce Employment and Skills Plans for large-scale housing and commercial construction developments through planning policies.

So far, two Employment and Skills Plans have been agreed for the redevelopment of Basingstoke Golf Club and a project to build a number of new logistics units at Jays Close in Basingstoke.

Shirley Ratcliffe, CITB senior customer engagement manager, said: “The South East is expected to see 16,750 new construction jobs by 2025, according to recent research, an ideal opportunity to retrain in or re-join the industry.

"With NSAfC status, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is supporting residents to have the right skills to take advantage of a booming construction sector and embark on exciting and rewarding careers.”

It is hoped that achieving this accredited status will allow the council to use a national set of benchmarks to secure more employment and training opportunities for residents on construction sites in the future.