CONSTRUCTION and engineering courses on offer in East Lothian are leading to jobs for young people and supporting local businesses, the region’s local authority has revealed.
Based in Wallyford Learning Campus, the Construction Skills Centre was established by East Lothian Council to meet growing demand from the industry for skilled workers at all levels.
Certificated courses – including Introduction to Construction and Access to Fabrication and Welding delivered by Edinburgh College – are on offer the building and available to young people as part of a partnership with the local authority.
East Lothian Council’s leader and provost, councillors Norman Hampshire and John McMillan, visited Had Fab, a structural engineering and fabrication firm based in the region, to meet with representatives and apprentices. This included first-year apprentices who had completed their qualification at the Construction Skills Centre and secured employment as part of the company’s established apprenticeship programme.
Council leader, councillor Norman Hampshire, said, “The Construction Skills Centre was developed in response to analysis of regional skills gaps. The construction industry is growing and needs new workers to meet projected output. Together with Edinburgh College, we wanted to harness this demand by offering young people opportunities to gain qualifications in this area while also benefiting local business and the wider sector.
“I was delighted to visit Had Fab and to see firsthand the impact our investment is already having. The company has given us excellent feedback on the quality of our graduates and their preparedness to join the workforce, and we look forward to finding new ways to develop this important industry partnership. As apprentices, these young people can now benefit from all of the career opportunities available to them in a leading business with a busy order book, all from East Lothian.”
Had Fab employs around 200 people, mostly based at Tranent. The company offers multidisciplinary services from concept design to completed project delivery across a range of sectors including power transmission, energy and rail.
Fiona Ogg, chief people officer at Had Fab, said, “Supporting local talent into long-term, high-quality careers is a priority for us. Our partnership with the Construction Skills Centre is already making a meaningful difference to our workforce. The young people joining our apprenticeship programme through this pathway arrive with strong foundational skills and confidence to work in a modern engineering environment.”
Sandy Bruce, head of school – engineering at Edinburgh College, added, “Our partnership with East Lothian Council is central to the success of the Access to Fabrication and Welding course. It gives young people a clear route into engineering while ensuring employers like Had Fab can draw on local talent with the right foundation to progress. As industry demands continue to grow, this collaboration helps us respond quickly and gives East Lothian a stronger skills base that supports long-term economic growth.”
