Angela Rayner MP lays foundations at Tameside College construction event

Angela Rayner, shadow secretary of state for education and MP for Ashton, visited Tameside College to meet students and staff at their recent construction event.

The event which took place on Friday 26^th October, included a breakfast meeting for employers to learn more about key changes in the industry and the college’s planned construction skills centre, a ‘skills show’ competition for students and a tools show.

Angela met with students who were taking part in the skills show competition, which included brickwork, plumbing and joinery categories. She also delivered a speech to employers on the benefits of college training and vocational study.

She said: “Tameside College is a fantastic local college that cares about its students and the construction industry. They work alongside Tameside Council to make sure that young people are actually studying something that is going to set them up for the future and allow them to enjoy it.”

“Working in the construction industry means you’re unlikely to ever be out of work, you can travel the world and you’ll be able to sustain a home and family life. We’ve got to break down the barriers around academic versus vocational courses and make sure people understand the benefits to be had.”

Denise Ward, the worshipful the mayor of Tameside and Martyn Pryce, chair of the cross construction apprenticeship taskforce, also attended the event and presented the skills show winners with their prizes.

Carl Shaw, curriculum leader for construction, said: “We have run the construction event for four years now and each year it has grown and grown. I’d like to say thank you to the fantastic employers, guests and Angela Rayner for coming along to find out about our courses and exciting new developments. I’d also like to congratulate all the highly skilled and professional students who took part in the skills competition, the work they produced was second to none.”