The FMB is backing a new pilot project to equip learners with the skills and experience they need.
Working in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and London-based Shooters Hill Sixth-Form College, the FMB is offering a 12-month pilot scheme designed to get learners site-ready from day one. This is about giving local young people the hands-on skills, health and safety know-how, and confidence to step onto a live site and get stuck in.
Why it matters to you
We know the industry is crying out for skilled workers. The Wanstead-based scheme is here to change that.
Learners will:
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Train in a realistic working environment
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Be eligible for a weekly bursary payment
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Be placed with local building firms
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Receive on-site mentoring from experienced tradespeople
And when they finish? They’ll be ready to work. Some will go straight into jobs or apprenticeships.
Here’s how we’re making it happen:
Key to the project is Gary Stringer, FMB Relationships Manager, who is the main point of contact for London-based members, acting as a bridge between them and the project.
Gary explained what the project is all about:
'We’re not talking about theory in a classroom. This is practical, multi-trade training designed to get students site-ready from day one.
'The focus is simple: to give learners core construction skills, proper health and safety training in a realistic environment, and the confidence to step onto a site and add value immediately.
'These young people won’t just be observers, they’ll be your second pair of hands, ready to learn, graft, and grow.
'This is more than just a course, it’s a direct response to the shortage of skills in our industry. It’s about building a pipeline of talent and giving learners a real shot at a career in construction. With input from FMB members and industry professionals, we’re making sure the training fits the real needs of the sector.
'The academy is also about creating opportunity. Learners will be supported with a weekly wage, placed with local employers, and mentored by people already in the trade. By the end of the program, they’ll be job ready, and some will go straight into work or apprenticeships.
'This is the FMB, CITB and Shooters Hills Sixth Form College working together to make a real difference. The future of construction starts here, and it starts in Wanstead.'
Want to get involved or find out more?
Interested members can find out more by contacting Gary at garystringer@fmb.org.uk.
Authors
Tom Peardon
Tom represents the London membership of the FMB championing their interests to key industry stakeholders in London and providing a support to the membership.
Tom has eighteen years of experience working commercially in construction media including fifteen years on the CIOB publications Construction Management and BIMplus. Tom has also worked on the Architects’ Journal, the Architectural Review and the Association for Project Safety publication the Project Safety Journal.
Tom holds a degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Roehampton.
