Barnsley College partners with Laing O’Rourke and T3 to launch UK’s first training facility for modern methods of construction

Yesterday, Barnsley College, in collaboration with Laing O’Rourke and T3 Training & Development, opened the UK’s first dedicated modern methods of construction (MMC) training facility.

The first of its kind training centre represents a groundbreaking step in addressing the UK’s construction skills shortage and modernising the industry.

The new facility, part-funded by the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), will provide people with the technical and digital skills required to assemble construction and engineering solutions that have been manufactured offsite. This includes giving learners, ‘Trainee Assembly Specialists’, access to the equipment and skills needed to work with large-scale modular components in a safe and controlled environment as they learn how to deliver sections of some of the UK’s largest infrastructure and construction projects.

It will be the first purpose-built facility to offer a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Construction Assembly Installation – approved by The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) in 2019. No other UK facility currently offers this bespoke off-site training, which is key to building faster, safer, and more efficiently.

The UK’s construction sector is at a pivotal moment, with more than 250,000 extra construction workers needed by 2028, to deliver the expected levels of work. To meet this demand, the industry must evolve, adopting manufacturing (off-site) and assembly (on-site) approaches to enhance productivity, safety, and environmental performance. This new qualification promises to help overcome the long-standing skills shortage in the sector and bridge the gap between young talent and experience.

Laing O’Rourke has committed to pioneering modern methods of construction for more than 15 years, knowing it offers attractive future careers that are safer, highly skilled and technical, in comparison to traditional construction approaches. The new training facility will develop digital and technical skills among their 4.500 directly employed workforce, increasing its ability to deploy a manufacturing-led approach to construction and deliver certainty for their clients.

David Akeroyd, Principal and Chief Executive, Barnsley College, said:

“We are delighted to have partnered with Laing O’Rourke and T3 Training & Development to create the UK’s very first Modern Methods of Construction Training Centre of its type. This facility will no doubt equip students with the expertise needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving construction sector, lead the way on more sustainable methods of construction, and ensure they are prepared for the ambitious demands of the modern workforce.

Through this collaboration, we are proud to play a vital role in addressing skills shortages and supporting the development of a highly skilled, future-ready workforce for the local region and beyond.”

Laing O’Rourke director, Peter Lyons, said:

“We are proud and excited to launch this first-of-a-kind training facility with Barnsley College and T3 Training & Development, and to have created a training course that will help accelerate change across our sector. Not only will it enhance the skills of our current directly employed workforce, but it will also attract a more diverse range of people to consider a career in construction.

“Only through the wider use of digital technologies and modern methods of construction can we transform productivity and create better work and careers for people. It’s a change we need to make to ensure we can deliver the essential infrastructure the country needs, and which underpins our quality of life.

“We would like to extend a huge thank you to Select Plant Hire, Explore Plant and Transport Solutions, Expanded, Explore Manufacturing, Crown House Technologies, Cemex and Patera Engineering Ltd for their help and support in the planning and construction of this new facility, they have been integral to the success of this project.”

Andy Adams, Managing Director, T3 Training and Development, said:

“I am thrilled to see the vision we’ve developed over nearly four years with Laing O’Rourke, and more recently with Barnsley College, come to fruition with the launch of the UK’s first dedicated training facility for modern methods of construction (MMC). This pioneering site and programme are designed not only to elevate T3 Training’s mission of delivering industry-specific training but also to address the critical skills gap in our sector. Through this facility, we aim to equip the next generation of ‘Trainee Assembly Specialists’ with the technical and digital expertise needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.

“This project is especially meaningful because of the remarkable collaboration and shared vision that brought it to life. Firstly, working closely with Laing O’Rourke, we saw the pressing need for a specialised facility and assembled a dedicated team to design and build a world-class, first-of-its-kind training centre. And with the steadfast support and commitment from Barnsley College, we were able to bring this vision into reality. I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment and hard work of everyone involved, all of whom share our passion for creating a space that will foster the skills and knowledge needed for the future of our industry.”

The ‘Modern Methods of Construction Training Centre (supported by Laing O’Rourke) will see the first cohort of apprentices begin their apprenticeships in the new year.