17/10/2025
Dudley College of Technology was pleased to welcome Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands to the Construction Apprenticeship Training (CAT) Centre recently, as part of a wider regional push to boost skills and innovation in the construction sector.
During his tour of the campus, Mayor Parker engaged directly with staff and students, gaining insight into their experiences and the hands-on training that is helping to prepare them for successful careers in the construction industry.
The visit comes after the Mayor’s recent announcement of a £75 million skills fund to train more than 12,000 learners in jobs such as bricklaying, engineering, design, plastering and painting to help tackle the region’s shortage of construction workers.
Speaking about the visit, Diana Martin, CEO and Principal of Dudley College of Technology, explained how the Mayor’s announcement complements the college’s recent recognition as a Centre of Technical Excellence for Construction (CTEC):
“Dudley College of Technology is proud to be supporting the Mayor’s plans for growth. Through our role as the region’s Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC) we will be working to boost both the range and quality of construction training across the West Midlands. One of our key objectives will be to work with employers to leverage further investment in construction skills provision, so that the industry not only builds capacity way into the future but can immediately maximise the business benefits the large-scale investment offers.”
John McKeon, Head of CTEC at the college, highlighted the importance of collaboration in delivering these ambitions.
“My role is to make sure there is a collective effort from all training providers to collaborate on key issues, such as driving up the quality of training so that everyone who goes through a programme is fully capable to do the job intended. The plan is to share best practice and develop a supportive culture across the region’s trainers.”
With increasing demand for construction-related training courses, The CAT Centre is central to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s strategy to build a future-ready workforce.
The Mayor’s visit and the ongoing investment in Dudley College’s CAT Centre demonstrate a clear commitment to equipping the West Midlands with the skilled workforce needed to deliver on the region’s ambitious growth and infrastructure plans.
