People living in Kingswinford, West Midlands, can now access new training and apprenticeships to help them get jobs in the building industry. On February 9, 2026, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, joined by local council leaders and Dudley College of Technology, announced a localized rollout in Kingswinford of the West Midlands’ £75 million construction skills package to help fill thousands of roles as housing and transport projects ramp up across the region.
The training is funded through the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) £75m skills package (announced October 2025) and is intended to train more than 12,000 people across the region. Funding for the package is drawn from the WMCA’s adult skills budget alongside a government construction skills mission fund. Dudley College of Technology is acting as a main hub for the learning as the region’s Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC), offering courses in trades such as bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and engineering to help residents gain the skills needed for local work.
The programme aims to provide workers for several large developments in the area, including the former Ketley Quarry site for which outline planning permission for up to 650 homes was granted in late 2025. Local firm S&R Construction has also moved into a new £8 million headquarters in Kingswinford; the building includes a dedicated training academy and events space intended to support staff and partner training.
As part of wider youth employment measures, the national Jobs/Youth Guarantee will offer six months of fully subsidised paid employment to eligible young people aged 18–21 (generally those who have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for around 18 months). Delivery of that guarantee is expected to begin in spring 2026 (April/May), and it is being aligned with local training and apprenticeship activity so that residents can benefit from the growth in local construction work.
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