National construction academy launches in Nuneaton

The team will be offering courses to school-leavers and existing construction workers

A construction academy has opened and plans to train up to 400 people in its first year.

The Hercules Construction Academy in Nuneaton is offering courses for both school-leavers and existing construction workers.

The private academy will provide courses that cover technical skills, health and safety, and management.

The UK will need almost 225,000 extra construction workers by 2027, according to the industry's training body.

Hercules Site Services, a company that supplies workers, equipment, and other services for construction firms, has funded and built the new centre which opened on Wednesday.

The courses range from short sessions that last a day, to apprenticeships that run for two years.

"I am so pleased the academy is being launched in Nuneaton," said Marcus Jones, the town's Conservative MP.

In a report published this month, the Construction Industry Training Board said the UK would need 224,900 extra workers to meet demand between now and 2027.