Young adults invited to sign up for Building Lives Academy

An academy dedicated to teaching young people in Kensington and Chelsea the skills they need for careers in construction is open for applications.

The Building Lives Academy, based in North Kensington, is an 11-week programme designed to prepare 16-to-24-year-old residents of the borough for a move into an apprenticeship, job or higher-level training in construction or logistics.

Trainees are fully funded and can gain qualifications in areas including construction skills, health and safety and employability as well as benefiting from on-site experience, access to personal branding workshops and the chance to learn maths, English and digital skills.

The Academy launches on 17 January from Kensington and Chelsea Council-owned premises provided to Willmott Dixon under a social investment lease. The premises are next to one of the Council’s new homes sites on Kensal Road.

Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Grenfell, Housing and Social Investment, said:

“Building high-quality homes requires high-quality professionals and it’s a real boost that the Building Lives Academy will give our young people the chance to be at the forefront of construction in their own borough.

“The Academy will provide an excellent, practical introduction to the industry and perhaps in time its graduates will play a role in our plans to build 600 new Council-owned homes in the borough.”

Richard Pickett, Head of Legacy in Willmott Dixon’s London and South business, said: 

“We are delighted to open our latest Building Lives Academy, which forms a key part of our community engagement as we create essential homes in partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Council.

“Through our academies we help local people who are out of work to gain vital skills in the construction industry, providing a pathway to an excellent career. We look forward to welcoming our latest cohort to our Building Lives Academy in North Kensington.”

The Building Lives Academy has now launched and applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.

To register your interest in the Building Lives Academy, email your contact details to Maria Roye at [email protected] or call London Learning Consortium on 07940 751767.

You can also find more information on the Government’s website.