South Bank Colleges is playing a leading role in a major new investment designed to train London’s next generation of construction and clean-energy workers. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the £88.6 million Construction Skills Package at a launch event held on Monday 27 July 2026. The programme will support more than 20,000 construction courses, create industry-placement opportunities and fund improvements to specialist training facilities and equipment across the capital.

South Bank Colleges was represented at the launch by Tim Weston and Boladale Busari for London South Bank Technical College. South Bank Colleges learner Badmos Kuti also contributed to the event, sharing his experience of undertaking an industry placement with HG Construction.

Leading London’s clean-energy training

South Bank Colleges has been appointed by the Government as one of London’s Technical Excellence Colleges and will lead the clean-energy strand of the capital’s Construction Skills Package.

Working alongside New City College, which will lead on construction, South Bank Colleges will help coordinate training providers, colleges and employers across London. The partnership will focus on improving the quality of technical education and ensuring that training reflects the skills employers need now and in the future.

This work will build upon the college’s growing expertise in areas including low-carbon construction, retrofit, building physics, renewable technologies and energy-efficient building systems.

The investment comes at an important moment for London. The Construction Industry Training Board estimates that the capital will need approximately 26,500 additional construction workers over a five-year period to meet demand from housing, commercial development and major infrastructure projects.

Skills shortages are particularly pronounced in areas such as electrical installation, plumbing, carpentry, bricklaying and technical project management. Demand is also increasing for specialists who can install and maintain technologies such as heat pumps, solar photovoltaic systems and energy-efficiency measures.

Connecting education with industry

A central feature of the programme is closer cooperation between colleges and employers.

Up to £43 million will be invested in further education colleges to improve training facilities and equipment. Construction professionals will also deliver more than 2,700 teaching days to learners through the Further Education Teacher Industry Exchange programme.

This will enable teaching staff to develop their industry knowledge while giving learners access to current professional expertise, working practices and technology.

Craig Hanlon-Smith, Principal at South Bank Colleges, welcomed the announcement and highlighted the importance of ensuring that technical training keeps pace with changes in the sector. “This additional investment is good news for London’s further education sector and our learners,” he noted. “As a training provider, our partnerships with employers are central to the types of courses we develop and deliver. Training needs to keep pace with evolving construction standards and the changing skills needs across the built environment sector. Our learners need the latest theory and practice so they’re job-ready by the end of the course.”

He added that the funding had already helped South Bank Colleges bring industry expertise into its teaching. “As one of London’s Technical Excellence Colleges, leading on Clean Energy, the funding has allowed us to bring in expertise from industry. This gives our tutors the latest knowledge and skills on building physics and low-carbon construction.

“This is an area where we see future growth in demand. We need to have the teaching workforce to deliver the training employers need and support Londoners into good job opportunities.”

From the classroom to the construction site

Industry placements will be another important part of the programme, allowing learners to apply their college training in professional settings.

Badmos Kuti described his placement with HG Construction as an opportunity to see how his studies translated into the workplace.

“The industry placement I completed with HG Construction was amazing,” Badmos said. “It showed me how what I’ve learned in college translates into the real working world. It gave me valuable insight into the construction industry and the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals, ask questions and gain a better understanding of what it’s like to work in the sector.”

Badmos said the placement had strengthened his ambition to build a career in the built environment. “It has made me even more confident that I’ve chosen the right career, and I can’t wait to start working professionally.”

Following the successful placement, HG Construction offered Badmos a further work-experience opportunity connected to electrical installation, the trade in which he hopes to begin an apprenticeship.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity and excited to continue learning and developing my skills,” he added.

Building London’s future workforce

The Construction Skills Package is intended to help London address two closely connected challenges: building more homes and creating the skilled workforce needed to deliver them.

The Mayor’s draft London Plan sets out proposals for as many as 558,000 new homes by 2037. At the same time, existing homes and buildings will need to become more energy efficient as London moves towards a lower-carbon future.

The new programme will therefore support both traditional construction occupations and emerging clean-energy careers.

Alongside the skills package, City Hall has announced three new Pan-London Sector Hubs covering the built environment, creative industries and life sciences. These hubs will make it easier for employers to connect with colleges and training organisations, contribute to course development and identify potential recruits.

For South Bank Colleges, the programme represents another step towards placing employers at the heart of technical education.

Through its Clean Energy Technical Excellence College, modern facilities at London South Bank Technical College and expanding network of employer partnerships, the college will help Londoners develop the practical knowledge, professional experience and confidence required to enter some of the capital’s most important industries.

The investment will not only support the construction workers needed today. It will help prepare a new generation to build, improve and decarbonise the London of tomorrow.