Industry leaders, employers and educators came together to celebrate the official launch of the North-West Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC), a major new initiative set to strengthen construction skills across the region.
The event, held at Wigan & Leigh College’s Pagefield Campus, marked the North-West’s role as one of just ten areas nationally chosen by the Department for Education to lead the transformation of construction training.
Wigan & Leigh College Principal and CEO Anna Dawe OBE welcomed guests and outlined how the North-West CTEC will bring colleges and employers together to deliver high-quality training designed around real industry need.
“Being chosen as one of only ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges nationally is a proud moment not just for our college, but for the whole of the North-West. The North-West CTEC will raise the bar for construction training, bringing together green skills, digital innovation and excellence in traditional trades to meet the real needs of industry. Together with our partners, we’re building something that goes beyond one college, we’re building the skilled workforce our region needs for the future.”
Anna Dawe OBE
Principal and CEO of Wigan & Leigh College
Anna was joined by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who spoke about the vital role a skilled construction workforce will play in delivering new homes and good growth across the city region.
“The choice of Wigan & Leigh as the North-West CTEC is a huge win for Greater Manchester. It reflects strong leadership at the college, and what can be achieved when partners work together to tackle skills challenges.
“If we are serious about delivering the homes our communities need and supporting good growth, we must train the skilled workforce to make it happen.
“This centre will bring together green, digital, and traditional construction skills, to provide the very best training for our young people, and clear routes into high‑quality careers.”
Andy Burnham
Mayor of Greater Manchester
Lisa O’Loughlin CBE, Principal and CEO of East Lancashire Learning Group, also addressed attendees, highlighting the strength of the three-college partnership leading the initiative alongside Blackpool & The Fylde College.
“This partnership is about creating the very best opportunities for our learners and for the North West. By working closely with Wigan and Leigh College, Blackpool and The Fylde College and our employer partners, we are strengthening the quality of construction education across the region. At East Lancashire Learning Group, we are proud to contribute our expertise in teaching and learning to ensure students develop the skills, confidence and ambition to succeed, and that our region benefits from the skilled workforce it needs for the future.”
Lisa O’Loughlin CBE
Principal and CEO of East Lancashire Learning Group
Backed by a £100 million national investment, Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will train 40,000 skilled workers by 2029, supporting the delivery of 1.5 million homes and critical infrastructure projects. Led in the North-West by Wigan & Leigh College, the CTEC will operate through a hub-and-spoke model, working with colleges and training providers across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool, Cumbria and Cheshire to ensure young people can access top-quality construction training close to home.
A second afternoon event featured a roundtable bringing together Heads of Construction from colleges across the North-West to discuss the skills challenges facing the sector and how collaboration through the CTEC network can help address workforce shortages, modernise training and support sustainable growth.
“The North West CTEC is a significant step forward for construction training and we are delighted to be members of this vital partnership.”
“By working collaboratively across colleges – and with employers – we can respond more effectively to skills shortages: ensuring that all young people across the region can access specialist, high-quality training to meet the in-demand needs of the modern construction sector.”
Alun Francis
Chief Executive Officer Blackpool and The Fylde College
Guests enjoyed an “Official Pie Ceremony”, a nod to Wigan’s heritage before touring the college’s state-of-the-art facilities, including its Future Energy Zone and industry-standard workshops where students train using the same equipment and technologies found on modern construction sites.
Employers, training providers and partners interested in working with the North-West CTEC can find out more by contacting the CTEC team at Wigan & Leigh College via CTECenquiries@wigan-leigh.ac.uk
