Free, forward-thinking course at Weymouth College to address challenges of construction industry

Weymouth College has added a fourth fully-funded course to its Green Skills offering, tackling the challenges faced by the local construction industry and helping to create a more sustainable future for Dorset.

The forward-thinking Introduction to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) course reflects the College’s commitment to being at the forefront of industry trends and equipping students with the skills needed for a sustainable and innovative future in the construction sector.

Nationally, we are failing to meet building targets, leaving many families living in temporary, unfit or unsuitable accommodation. Much of this delay is considered to be driven by build cost inflation, planning delays, nutrient neutrality and other factors.

MMC, also known as ‘smart construction’, is a fast way of delivering new buildings by maximising the efficiency of material and human resources, which has already seen success in the retail, health and education sectors.

Keen to delve into how MMC could also benefit the housing sector, Weymouth College will be offering this two-day, fully-funded course for housing sector clients and stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the MMC approach, how it can be used to address key industry challenges and pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient approach to building.

Benefits of Modern Methods of Construction

There are several reasons why knowledge of MMC is important for housing providers and construction stakeholders, and this short course will provide an overview of the below key benefits:

• Efficiency and Speed
• Quality and Consistency
• Sustainability
• Flexibility in Design
• Meeting Housing Demand
• Technology Adoption
• Risk Mitigation

Funded by the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), the course will be delivered by industry experts, including those who have been delivering MMC homes for social housing providers and helping to develop a greater awareness of MMC for the residential sector.

Those contributing to the course include:

• Magna Housing
• Complex Asset Management Solutions
• Fisher & Dean Construction
• Taylor Lewis
• One50Studio
• South West Procurement Alliance
• LHC procurement
• Rollalong
• Michelmores
• Building Better

Kelly Bush, Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality at Weymouth College, commented: “Awareness and adoption of Modern Methods of Construction can empower housing providers with tools to address challenges in the construction industry, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver high-quality, sustainable homes to meet the demands of the modern housing market.

“Weymouth College has itself benefitted from the advantages of MMC, with our new state-of-the-art Tyneham building having been constructed using modular building methods for cost-effectiveness, time efficiency and sustainability.

“Thanks to funding from the Local Skills Improvement Fund, and working closely with partners in the local housing sector, Weymouth College is delighted to be offering this Introduction to Modern Methods of Construction, helping to equip the local workforce with the knowledge and skills required to embrace a greener and more sustainable future for Dorset.”

Plugging skills gaps to grow the economy

The Introduction to Modern Methods of Construction will be delivered at Weymouth College from February 2023, alongside three other fully-funded Green Skills courses designed to upskill those with existing electrical or plumbing qualifications, including the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging equipment, solar photovoltaic panels and heat pump systems.

You can find out more about all Weymouth College’s Green Skills courses and how to apply here.

All four green skills courses have been funded by LSIF, a government investment aimed at transforming skills training so that local businesses can continue to tap into the workforce they need to thrive, while helping more people to secure good jobs closer to home.

The innovative projects benefitting from the funding will support people to gain the skills needed to launch careers in the green sector and support the local economy to grow.

The funding has been awarded specifically to priority sectors identified by local employers in their Local Skills Improvement Plans, as part of a government drive to get more people into good jobs closer to home, plug skills gaps and grow the economy.

Across the South West region, employers identified skills including digital, construction and engineering as priorities.