LSST Wembley Hosts Construction Luncheon to Fuel London’s Skills Pipeline

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Against the backdrop of a growing UK construction labour deficit, LSST Wembley brought together leading Tier 1 and 2 contractors, local authority leaders and community investment teams for its Construction and Community Impact Luncheon.

Recent sector data from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB, 2026) projects that the UK construction sector must recruit over 41,200 additional workers each year through 2030 – totalling over 206,000 new entrants – to meet growing output demands and offset structural retirements.

To address this challenge within Greater London, LSST hosted major contractors – including Mace Group, McAleer & Rushe, Morgan Sindall and Wates, McGee and Quinn London – alongside local representatives to align vocational and construction skills training with industry requirements.

 

Learners Take Centre Stage

During an interactive Q&A session hosted by Ezekiel Afolabi, LSST’s Employer Engagement Manager, learners shared their personal journeys, practical training experiences and career ambitions directly with key decision-makers.

After the main presentation, delegates visited LSST Wembley’s state-of-the-art Construction Training Centre, viewing the purpose built facility where local learners develop site-ready skills and achieve their CSCS Cards.

The event featured contributions during an open-floor discussion, with insights provided by Chris King, Social Value Manager at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Timothy Mettis, Employment Engagement Coordinator at Hounslow Council, and Mark Anfilogoff, Founder of Surviving the Gap.

Mr Ali Jafar Zaidi, CEO of LSST, said:

“Our role across the further and higher education sector extends far beyond traditional delivery; we are an engine for social mobility and local economic growth. The commitments shared today demonstrate that when providers, civic leaders and industry heavyweights collaborate with clear intent, we construct a resilient site-ready workforce equipped to power London’s future.”

 

Matt Garvey, Head of Further Education and Business Development at LSST, said:

“Employers play a vital role in making any skills programme succeed and in opening up job opportunities for our learners. Events like this give employers a chance to share the skills and qualities they value, helping us align our training accordingly. They also give learners valuable insight into what’s expected of them in the construction industry.”

Ezekiel Afolabi, LSST’s Employer Engagement Manager, said:

“The strong turnout from major contractors and local authorities, combined with our learners confidently sharing their journeys, perfectly demonstrated the impact of our training. The energy in the room was highly positive, and it was fantastic to secure tangible commitments from employers to back our future provisions and provide ongoing opportunities for our learners.”

Faye Meleti, FE Programme Manager at LSST, added:

“It was wonderful to see our learners engaging so confidently today and proudly presenting their achievements. Seeing how much their confidence has grown since joining the programme was truly inspiring. It was especially encouraging to see them engaging with employers, showcasing their skills and taking positive steps towards their future careers.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demonstrating the event’s immediate impact, attending employers committed to backing future LSST cohorts through direct site opportunities, hands-on training support, and clear routes into long-term employment.

LSST launches new construction training programmes from September 2026 and this forum ensures that the training is aligned to what local employers really need. For more information on LSST’s construction training offer visit www.lsst.ac/fe.

   

Reference

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) (2026). Construction Workforce Outlook 2026–2030. Bircham Newton: CITB. Available at: https://www.citb.co.uk/cwo

For additional information or interviews, please direct questions to LSST’s Public Relations Manager via kunal.mehta@lsst.ac .

 

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