WHAT’S NEW? LEEDS COLLEGE OF BUILDING NAMED ONE OF FIRST TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE COLLEGES


Leeds College of Building (LCB) has been named one of the first ever construction technical excellence colleges (CTEC) and will receive a share of £100m in government funding to tackle construction skills shortages.


Only 10 colleges across England have been given the status for the 2025 to 2026 academic year, with LCB selected to represent Yorkshire & the Humber region. Ministers say the CTECs will train 40,000 people by 2029 in high- demand trades such as tiling, bricklaying, carpentry, roofing and electrical work.


Technical excellence colleges are a new government designation for FE colleges that will receive extra funding to deliver training in sectors where there are shortages. Each will receive a share of £80m in capital and £20m in revenue over the next four years.


This first wave covers construction and comes on top of £625m announced for the sector in March to cover 60,000 training places through foundation apprenticeships, skills bootcamps and other funded construction courses.


The government hopes these initiatives will plug skills shortages in the construction industry and “backs the British working class” by reducing the sector’s reliance on overseas workers.


KELMORE EXPANDS FLOORING TEAM


Tiling and flooring preparation products manufacturer, Kelmore Limited has appointed Mike Jones as Area Sales Manager for the North of England and Scotland, strengthening its flooring division during a period of rapid expansion.


Bringing Mike Jones on board reinforces the company’s commitment to exceptional service and positions Kelmore for continued growth. With extensive experience in sales and customer management within the flooring sector, Mike will focus on supporting customers, driving growth and expanding Kelmore’s presence.


On his new appointment, Mike commented: “I’m really looking forward to connecting with and


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supporting customers across the North of England and Scotland. Kelmore has very quickly built an impressive reputation for innovation and quality in the market and it’s an exciting time to be joining the business.”


Steve Kean, Head of Sales, added: “Mike’s appointment strengthens our presence in the North of England and Scotland and ensures we can deliver even more support to our customers. His knowledge of the flooring market and focus on building strong relationships make him an excellent addition to the team. We are confident he will play a key role in helping Kelmore achieve its growth targets.”


Managing Director Mark Kelly commented: “Investing in talented, experienced people like Mike is central to our strategy for growth.


www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk


His appointment highlights our commitment to providing outstanding service and expert guidance to our customers, and we are excited to see the impact he will have.”


https://kelmore.co.uk


The announcement confirms a CTEC in each region of England.


Leeds College of Building will now act as a hub in its region and partner with local training providers and employers to expand courses to more learners and improve training standards.


Leeds College of Building CEO and Principal Nikki Davis currently represents the further education sector on the Construction Skills Mission Board, recently launched by the Construction Leadership Council. Nikki said:“We are thrilled to be appointed as one of the first ever CTECs in the country, reflecting our reputation as one of the nation’s


leading construction training providers. We look forward to collaborating with other colleges and independent training providers to benefit even more learners and meet the skills needs across our region through cutting-edge specialist curricula and high-quality teaching practices.


Other winning colleges are Derby College Group, West Suffolk College, New City College, City of Sunderland College, Wigan and Leigh College, North Kent College, Exeter College, The Bedford College Group, and Dudley College of Technology.


www.lcb.ac.uk


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