Lioncourt Homes helps build future construction talent in Shrewsbury

Award-winning housebuilder, Lioncourt Homes, is tackling the decade-long skills gap in the construction industry by teaming up with Shrewsbury College to provide students with hands-on experience, materials and career advice.

A donation of nine pallets of bricks was donated to the Construction and Trades Department and will be used for various training exercises, including masonry, bricklaying, and other construction techniques, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience.

Additionally, Lioncourt Homes has welcomed its first group of Shrewsbury College apprentices, aged 16-18, to its Montgomery Grove site, located off Thrower Road in Shrewsbury. There, they were given hands-on experience on a live construction site, and the opportunity to gain career advice, practical skills guidance and further knowledge from those working within the industry.

Ben Hingley, Site Manager at Montgomery Grove, said: “The UK construction sector has been facing a skills shortage for over a decade. It is a real problem for housebuilders across the country and, only by supporting the training of future employees will we be able to help fill the gap.

“It was great to spend the morning with apprentices from Shrewsbury College and provide an insight into what working on a housing development entails. There are a huge range of career opportunities within the industry, and it was promising to see such talented young people embarking on their journey into construction. I hope to work with many of them in years to come.”

To keep up with the current rate of growth in the UK, it is reported that over 200,000 skilled workers are needed to close the current skills gap within the construction industry.

Matt Laws, Vice Principal for Technical & Vocational Education at Shrewsbury College, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Lioncourt for their generous contribution. This donation will have a lasting impact on our students, allowing them to practice and hone their skills with high-quality materials. It is partnerships like these that strengthen our educational programmes and support our goal to provide exceptional learning opportunities.”

Highlighting the importance of the donation, Curriculum Director of the Construction and Trades Department at Shrewsbury College, Stuart Raine, said: “Having access to ample materials is crucial for our training programmes. This donation allows us to expand our practical sessions and offer students more comprehensive and realistic construction experiences.

“Lioncourt Homes has been a long-time supporter of Shrewsbury Colleges Group, recognising the importance of investing in education and the development of future industry professionals. Their continued support underscores their commitment to community and workforce development.”

Lioncourt Homes is currently building a range of two, three and four bedroom homes at Montgomery Grove, with prices starting from just £255,000.

This year, Lioncourt Homes marked a decade of being rated a five-star housebuilder by industry body, the Home Builders’ Federation (HBF). The housebuilder currently has 11 live sites across the Midlands, including The Paddocks near Telford and Heritage Walk in Ironbridge, offering a wide range of homes from one-bedroom apartments to luxury five-bedroom family homes.