A new training centre to help teenagers in Bradford get a job in the construction industry will open in September.

The Centre of Excellence in the Built Environment is part of a wave of centres for excellence designed to give pupils valuable experience and make them “job ready” for various industries.

The latest centre is a partnership between Bradford College, Tong High School, Carlton Bolling College and several leading construction businesses. Pupils at the centre will have the opportunity to carry out work experience within the construction industry to provide them with a greater understanding of how business works.

The businesses involved include Arnold Laver & Co Ltd, Wates Construction, Moortown Construction and Rex Procter and Partners and they will work as mentors to assist them develop the skills needed for the world of work. The centre will see teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 given the opportunity to study a BTEC in the Built Environment, with the possibility to then progress into Further and Higher Education at Bradford College.

Michael Page the project leader for the ICE, said:” “With the construction industry showing signs of recovery there has never been a better time to launch an initiative like this that will actively encourage young people to pave a career in this sector.”

The Centre of Excellence will be fully operational from September, 2014, and the partnership hopes more than 100 pupils will be studying in the first year at the centre, which will be located across the schools and college sites.

Andrew Laver, group managing director at Arnold Laver & Co Ltd, said ”As a leading employer in the region, we fully understand the benefit to both the community and businesses in general, to have access to a consistent supply of talented and well educated young people.

“We strongly believe in developing our employees and take the view that today’s trainees are our managers of the future.’’ Bradford Council announced plans for several different Industrial Centres for Excellence across the district last year, at a time when more than 6,000 18 to 25-year-olds were claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance.

The Council said it would boost its “Get Bradford Working” scheme to get more young people into apprenticeships and training.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the executive member for employment, skills and culture, said: “The announcement of this new Industrial Centre of Excellence is really welcome.

The strong link with employers will mean that young people who enroll, develop skills and experience which are of real value in today's jobs market.

“It’s a model of learning which we are promoting as part of Get Bradford Working to make sure that young people leaving school can win through in an increasingly competitive jobs market.”