The NIS Group has opened a new specialist infrastructure and rail training centre in Aston, in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton College.
The new Transport, Rail and Infrastructure Academy (TRIA) pledges over 500 jobs new jobs for learners, with employers including Buildforce Solutions, Linsco, Randstad and Danny Sullivan Group supporting the endeavour.
The centre was officially unveiled by NIS Group and the City of Wolverhampton College, both of which have invested 250,000 GBP into the building’s transformation, with the opening ceremony attended by over 100 people, including Councillor Sharon Thompson, deputy mayor of the West Midlands.
Davie Carns, chief executive officer and founder of NIS Group, said:Everything we do is focused on helping people secure sustainable long-term jobs.
The fact we had over 500 jobs pledged by employers before the centre officially opened shows the urgent need for workers in the infrastructure, rail and construction sectors, not to mention the belief these companies have in our ability to train individuals to industry standards.
This is such an incentive for people considering a career in this field. They can immediately see that by embarking on the training with us that there is a guaranteed job at the end of it. We’ll make sure that by the time they finish with us they will have the base skills, the qualifications and, in some cases, specialist knowledge of certain disciplines to be an immediate success.
Sporting a 15-metre high-speed slab track, 30 metres of conventional track, one high speed set of points, one level crossing barrier and training facilities for civil engineering programmes, the centre will enable learners rail career opportunities within the Network Rail infrastructure across the UK.
TRIA Aston is now NIS Group’s third dedicated academy in the West Midlands, following both its original site at City of Wolverhampton College’s Wellington Road campus in Bilston and the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO)’s Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley.
Jim Fleming, Director of Buildforce Solutions, said:The skills shortage in the construction and infrastructure industries is well documented which is why facilities like this are really important.
Our relationship with NIS Group means we have taken candidates out of the TRIA programme and been able to put them on construction sites almost immediately.
We look forward to being able to continue this and strengthening our relationship with NIS Group and City of Wolverhampton College.
Up to 1000 courses will be available for those learning at an entry level, with access to specialist equipment available across the site for those looking to progress in infrastructure and rail, as well as a set of small plant and NSAR-accredited courses.
