£500,000 GLA funding expands LSST construction training at Wembley
By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 6 October 2026
New Painting and Decorating courses will help hundreds of London adults develop practical skills and take their first steps towards employment or self-employment.
LSST is expanding its construction training at Wembley after securing £500,000 in new funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA).
The funding will enable LSST to extend its successful construction programmes to eligible adults across London, with new six-week Painting and Decorating courses designed to give learners practical skills, recognised qualifications and a clearer route into the construction industry.
Learning the trade is only half the story. Learners will also learn what it takes to make a living from it – writing estimates and customer quotes, raising invoices, developing a marketing plan and building a pipeline of work. It is a practical introduction to self-employment that is designed to help turn new skills into a sustainable career.
They will also visit live building sites and meet employers and job agencies, allowing them to see construction careers at close range and understand what employers expect from people entering the industry.
‘Following our successful Skills Bootcamp, I am delighted to welcome new learners to our Wembley campus as part of the London Talent Pathway funded by the GLA,’ said Faye Meleti, Senior Programme Manager at LSST. ‘There is a huge demand for construction skills in the city and wonderful opportunities for people to become self-employed. We combine the two and give adults the entry-level skills and behaviours they need to get started.’
The programme is delivered at LSST’s purpose-built Construction Training Centre at Wembley, which was opened earlier this year by the Mayor of Brent.
The facility has 10 training bays to accommodate more than 20 learners and has been designed to provide an inclusive environment where adults can develop practical skills in a setting that reflects the workplace.
For learners, there is also a clear next step. Successful participants will be supported to progress towards completing their CSCS Green Card, helping them move closer to working on construction sites.
‘We expect to train around 200 or more adults this year,’ said Matt Garvey, Head of Further Education and Business Development at LSST. ‘We are partnering with some amazing employers who want skilled and reliable workers and our initial intake learners will visit building sites for guided tours as they become site-ready. It’s all part of the programme to build not just skills but behaviours like reliability, timekeeping, work ethic and willingness to learn that lead to jobs in construction.’
That focus on workplace behaviours is central to LSST’s approach. The aim is not simply to give learners a qualification, but to help them understand what employers are looking for and develop the confidence and practical experience to take their next step.
For some, that next step could be employment with a construction company. For others, it could be the beginning of working for themselves.
The next intake for the LSST Construction Skills Programme begins on Wednesday 28 October, with enrolments now open.
Find out more about the programme at: https://www.lsst.ac/start-your-career-in-construction/
For further information, email ezekiel.afolabi@lsst.ac.
Learn more about LSST’s Construction Training Centre here: https://www.lsst.ac/news/lsst-launches-new-construction-training-centre-to-boost-londons-skills-pipeline/
For further details or media inquiries, contact LSST’s Public Relations Manager via kunal.mehta@lsst.ac.
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