A NEW industry-led construction school in the Forest is aiming to tackle a "severe skills shortage" within the sector when it opens for learners in the new year.

The team behind the new ’AccXel’ learning centre, located on Whimsey Industrial Estate in Cinderford, are hoping to support the growth of the industry through education by helping individuals to progress their careers.

The centre, which is the UK’s first co-funded, industry-led construction school, has been established to tackle a skills shortage which the team says is "plaguing" the industry.

The school has been co-funded by the Government, local enterprise partnership GFirst LEP and Cinderford-based construction company KW Bell Group.

Prior to the completion of the centre, the team secured partnerships with "industry giants" JCB and Leica Geosystems, who have supplied the school with the highest spec technology so that recruits can hone their practical skills before they start working on construction sites.

Nicola Bird, AccXel’s founder and Managing Director said: "We are so pleased to be finally opening the doors to AccXel.

"Over the past year we have garnered a huge amount of support from within the construction industry, which has highlighted how desperately an education facility like AccXel is needed.

"We are so excited that our school has completed its construction phase, and we can finally put our plans to support the future of the construction workforce into fruition."

The team are aiming to boost the sector by recruiting new talent, helping the existing workforce progress to the next phase of their career and connecting both the education and industry sector to "accelerate new skills".

Natalie Bell, AccXel’s Business and Partnerships Director, added: "The support for AccXel has been overwhelming and we are so thankful for it.

"Whilst we are taking time to enjoy this momentous occasion, we are still looking towards the future.

"We hope that our facility in Cinderford will be the first of many AccXel construction education facilities to be built around the UK."

The school has also secured partnerships with an array of local and national construction companies to facilitate new employment for apprentices and career changers as they enter the industry.

The "highly reputable" partners, which include Barnwood Construction, Bloor Homes, Coslin Construction, have an annual turnover in excess of £2bn, and all have pledged to provide employment for 80 of AccXel’s construction apprentices in the first year.

Nicola Bird added: "We would like to thank all our wonderful trades who worked on the project for their commitment, passion and enthusiasm during the construction phase.

"It is a privilege to work in the construction industry, and it makes me proud that we are having such an impact by supporting it’s succession, growth and future ambitions."