Our beginning: Plumbing Skills Centre (2004)

Construction Skills College was founded in 2004 by our current director, David Hare. At the time, adults looking to retrain in construction often faced long waiting lists, slow routes through night classes, or private training that lacked quality and practical depth.

David identified a clear gap: short, intensive, hands-on training courses that taught job-ready skills quickly.
The centre originally launched as the Plumbing Skills Centre, focusing solely on practical plumbing training.

Supporting local communities and workforce retraining

In the mid-2000s, Stoke-on-Trent experienced widespread redundancies following the decline of the pottery industry.
We partnered with Unity on the Better West Midlands Project to help retrain workers with practical plumbing skills.

As demand grew, we were asked to expand into additional trades:

• Tiling
• Plastering
• Carpentry
• Kitchen fitting
• Bricklaying
• Domestic electrical installations

This expansion led to a rebrand — and the Construction Skills College name was born.

Recognition and key milestones

• Selected as a flagship centre for visits from MPs
• Received a certificate of recognition from Brendan Barber, former TUC General Secretary
• Opened a West Midlands training centre to further support redundancy-led retraining
• Featured in a promotional video for the Better West Midlands project (available on our YouTube channel)

Partnerships with leading brands

We have worked with recognised brands across retail and manufacturing to support staff training, product training,
and hands-on skills development.

Notable projects

• B&Q: selected as the only training provider to train approximately 1,800 staff across 52 stores in the UK and Ireland for the launch of a new tiling range
• B&Q: co-designed and delivered “You Can Do It” in-store training centres, helping customers learn practical DIY/project skills

Ongoing partnerships and support

• British Gypsum (plastering course support)
• The Tile Association (approved training centre)
• Wickes (plumbing training for installation team apprentices)
• BAL Adhesives (resources, support and training for tiling)
• City & Guilds and AIM Qualifications (approved awarding bodies)

Note: partnerships and awarding-body routes can vary by course. Always check the specific course page for the most up-to-date detail.

Armed forces training (ELC-funded)

We deliver ELC-funded training for armed forces service leavers and have trained
2,220 service leavers to date, with an average evaluation score of 97%
from 1,513 evaluation forms returned directly to ELCAS.

Who we train

Our courses today

We currently offer hands-on trade training in:

• Plastering
• Plumbing & heating
• Wall & floor tiling
• Carpentry
• Kitchen fitting
• Bricklaying
• Domestic electrical installations

Explore specific trade hubs:

• Tiling courses
• Plumbing courses
• Plastering courses
• Carpentry courses
• Bricklaying courses
• Electrical courses
• Multi-skilled courses

What we’re developing next

• Weekend and evening courses across trades
• Short, intensive project-based courses
• Longer-duration training
• Blended learning (online + in-centre practical)

What makes us different

• Experienced, trade-specific tutors with real-world site knowledge
• Realistic training bays with industry-standard tools and proper materials
• Relevant course content designed for real jobs (not just passing assessments)
• Ongoing support after your course — advice is available when you start real work
• Honest guidance on progression, self-employment and next steps
• Flexible training for individuals and employers
• Accreditation routes through approved awarding bodies (where applicable)