Bricklaying training took center stage during a visit by Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, to Middlesbrough Construction Academy.
McDonald toured the academy, met students and instructors, and took part in hands-on sessions that included bricklaying and plastering. He also met Tracey Fletcher-Ray, the new CEO of Learning Curve Group, which runs the Middlesbrough site alongside construction academies in Sunderland and Exeter.
McDonald said it is “critically important” to help young people and adults build skills that match jobs available locally. He credited the academy for getting learners “out there into the world of work.”
For mason contractors, this kind of practical training pipeline matters. Brick and block work depends on job-ready fundamentals, from laying to line and level, to understanding how a clean, consistent bed joint supports quality and production. When training stays tied to real employment routes, it helps crews in the field and supports long-term capacity in the trade.
Learning Curve Group said its academies focus on access as well as skills, supporting people of all ages and helping learners overcome barriers to training and employment. Fletcher-Ray pointed to growing demand for skilled trades and said it’s important to invest in people and provide clear paths into work, regardless of background or circumstance.
The visit also comes as the North East faces a higher share of young people not in education, employment, or training. The Milburn Review highlighted the need for better access to training, guidance, and support in the region, which has a NEET rate of 18%, nearly double the South East.
Read the full, original article from Yahoo News UK here.