More than 4,000 get jobs after TfL Places for London training

Transport for London (TfL) has reported that its Construction Skills Programme has supported 4,200 people into new careers across the built environment sector, and trained more than 10,000 people since 2019.

Places for London, TfL's wholly owned property company, runs the programme with its training partner, The Skills Centre, along with construction and developer partners.

Those on the programme have gone on to work on developments across the capital, including on Places for London’s housing developments and other sites brought forward by construction and development partners, said TfL.

Together with other public bodies and industry leaders, the programme trains people at a network of five academies on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Skills Centres at Earls Court, Edgware and Bollo Lane, and, most recently, the Green Plant Academy, a dedicated training facility for operating construction vehicles in London.

All the academies train people on a range of skills, helping them become dryliners, formworkers and steelfixers among other vocations, said TfL. The training available includes in-work National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), apprenticeships, trade?based skills to specialist courses. Learners can also work towards gaining a Constructions Skills Certifications Scheme (CSCS) card – a nationally recognised accreditation, which proves that those working on UK construction sites have the training and qualifications.

The Green Plant Academy allows people to learn how to operate a range of construction vehicles, with a focus on zero and low emission vehicles to help demonstrate innovation and best industry practice.

Places for London’s Construction Skills programme has also given schoolchildren work experience placements, and talks, helped adults consider careers they may have never considered previously and helped bring better diversity to the workforce.

“Through giving Londoners opportunities to learn new skills and find new careers, the Construction Skills Programme gives Londoners opportunities, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and those who are underrepresented in the industry at present,” said TfL.

“Sixty-five per cent of Places for London’s trainees have come from underrepresented demographics and backgrounds such as women and those from ethnic minority backgrounds, a significant difference to the wider industry where 15% of those in the built environment are women and just 6% are from ethnic minority communities.”

An additional 239,300 construction workers will be needed by 2029 to meet expected levels of work, according to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

CITB has identified the need for 6,200 plant operatives across the capital by 2027. Places for London is showing that there are hundreds of opportunities for those at school and beyond to get involved in, said TfL. “After learning these skills, learners can go on to have fulfilling careers and know that they are helping to address the housing crisis, building the homes London urgently needs.”

Jon Howlin, CEO at The Skills Centre, said: “This partnership shows what’s possible when training is brought to where it’s needed most — directly into communities, close to major developments, and aligned with real job opportunities. Many of those we’ve trained come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in construction.

“By opening the door to practical, life-changing careers, we’re not just helping people into work — we’re building a more inclusive, skilled and sustainable workforce for London.

"From pre-employment bootcamps to in-work NVQs and apprenticeships, we’re giving people the tools they need to thrive in a fast-evolving industry — one that urgently needs fresh talent to help deliver the homes and infrastructure we need. 

"The success of this collaborative model has also enabled The Skills Centre to expand into areas like Essex and the West Midlands, where we’re now transforming even more lives across the UK."

https://www.placesforlondon.co.uk/skills-and-training