12/08/2025
Dudley of Technology has today been named as one of only 10 Centres of Technical Excellence for the Construction (CTECs) sector in England.
Following a national bidding process lead by the Department for Education, the college has been chosen to shape a region wide approach to boost skills in all areas of construction including traditional trades such as Brickwork, Plumbing and Electrical as well as emerging skills need such as Solar PV Installation.
On the back of this success the college will share in £80m capital funding and £20m revenue funding pledge over the next 4 years to support CTECs to work collaboratively with employers, other training providers and professional bodies such as CITB, to meet the challenges they face in recruiting a workforce to deliver new build and infrastructure projects.
Building on the wide range of training programmes delivered from the college’s Construction Apprenticeship Training (CAT) Centre based in Brierley Hill and its Advance Centre in Dudley, the CTEC status will allow for further expansion of the college’s training offer including Apprenticeships, T levels and short upskilling courses for those already working in industry. The college will share its expertise with other Further Education, Higher Education and training providers in the region to increase capacity overall, in areas of skill shortage such as, building services engineering, retrofit and construction management.
Commenting on the success Diana Martin Chief Executive and Principal of the college said:
“This superb news recognises the significant growth we have achieved over the last three years by responding to the huge training opportunities presented by the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Growth Plan, which will build 120,000 new homes, and their commitment to Homes for the Future, which will drive progress to net zero. In becoming a Centre for Excellence, we will be able to accelerate our mission to train hundreds of learners, who will have limitless employment opportunities as we see exponential demand for skills across this sector.”
Echoing this, Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands said:
“Dudley College has an excellent track record of working with employers to train the next generation of skilled construction workers. This new investment from the Government is vital to going even further:
“The town is seeing huge investment and undergoing a major transformation, including the new Metro line and the new Portersfield development. The College is stepping up to ensure a supply of keen, well-trained workers who are ready to take advantage of the exciting opportunities on their doorstep.
“This investment is also a huge vote of confidence from Government for our plans to equip our young people with the skills they need to secure great jobs and help us build a brighter future for Dudley and the wider West Midlands.”
Expressing her delight at this announcement Sonia Kumar. MP for Dudley said:
“This announcement marks a major step forward for skills development in Dudley. By choosing Dudley College to be the West Midlands Construction Technical Excellence College, we’re opening doors for local people to gain high-quality training and access rewarding careers in a vital industry.
“It’s about creating real opportunities — giving our young people and adult learners the tools they need to succeed, right here in their own community.
“I’m proud to see Dudley leading the way in building a skilled workforce for the future. This is a vote of confidence in our town’s potential and in the talent of our people.”
Milena Davis – Head of Early Careers- VINCI Building said:
“It’s fantastic to see the Department of Education programme championing the construction sector and actively addressing the skills shortages we face. This is a great opportunity for Dudley College, a long-standing and valued partner of ours. I’m particularly interested in seeing how CTECs are rolled out nationally and how the college can support regional development. At VINCI Building, we’re committed to building strong, collaborative relationships with our clients and stakeholders – and this initiative is a positive step forward for the construction industry”
Commenting on behalf of the College’s Corporation Professor Paul Noon OBE, Chair, said:
“I’m delighted that the excellent work staff at the college already do in technical training for the multiple trade pathways and technical professions in this sector has been recognised. Most importantly it will give the people of Dudley and the wider region even greater access to the types of training that will deliver individual and collective economic growth. It will also allow us to deepen the collective work institutions already do by working together on a whole sector training plan.”
