A new purpose-built centre offering expert training in a host of construction skills has opened in Smethwick in a drive to get people into jobs.

Bosses at Glossop-based NSPP Vocational Training have invested in a new West Midlands centre to provide free training for anyone aged over 19 who is unemployed and wants to learn a trade.

The company is currently enrolling people on nationally-recognised and accredited construction courses in brickwork, painting and decorating, plastering and general construction. It’s helping people like 30-year-old Nikki Crook who was recently made redundant from her sales job. Nikki, from Bearwood, has taken up plastering and is planning to go on and learn painting and decorating with a view to becoming self-employed. She said: “I found out about this new training centre at the Job Centre. I came for an interview and was accepted on a Level Two Diploma. It is a real change of career for me, having always worked in sales, and I really love it. I want to get all my qualifications and then set up as a self-employed plaster and painter and decorator.”

NSPP, which is City & Guilds and Cskills Awards approved, also runs apprenticeship courses and is part of the 40-strong West Midlands-based BCTG consortium. Paul Shepherd, one of three directors at NSPP, said: “We joined the BCTG Consortium last year and have had great support from BCTG in our decision to invest in a new centre in the West Midlands. Our new purpose-built centre in Smethwick, which itself has created new jobs, provides training for up to 40 trainees on diploma courses well as our 16-24-year-old apprentices.”

Chris Luty, BCTG director, added: “It really is good news for the area that an experienced training provider like NSPP has decided to invest in the West Midlands rather than opting to open another northern training centre. There are good opportunities here for unemployed people like Nikki who want to learn new skills or change career so they can get back into work.”