Supporting and developing the next generation of tradespeople is a core part of Polypipe Building Products’ commitment to the construction industry. As the sector continues to face ongoing skills shortages and evolving regulatory requirements, ensuring future construction professionals leave education with job-ready, practical experience has never been more important.
Through its support for OTE Construction Training Centre, Polypipe Building Products is helping to create a realistic training environment where groundworker students develop practical installation skills, using the same Below Ground drainage products which they’re likely to install throughout their careers. By combining product support with technical expertise, Polypipe Building Products demonstrates its commitment to raising industry standards and investing in future talent.
Located in Hull, OTE Construction Training Centre features an impressive 12,000 square foot training facility providing dedicated areas for bricklaying, plastering, joinery, plumbing, and painting and decorating. The centre predominantly works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, improving their confidence, life skills, and self-worth, and helping them realise their true potential by giving them the qualifications and experiences needed for a career in the construction industry.
This shared view of practical learning and nurturing future talent has made supporting training facilities like OTE Construction a natural extension of Polypipe Building Products’ commitment to the industry.
Creating a hands-on learning environment
Practical experience is embedded throughout the courses, with trainees alternating between one week at the training centre and three weeks gaining hands-on experience on a live site.
Polypipe Building Products has supplied a range of Below Ground pipe and fittings, helping to create environments where students can develop practical installation skills using the exact products they will encounter throughout their careers. Utilising real-world materials ensures students build familiarity and confidence with these systems well before they step on-site.
Speaking about Polypipe Building Products’ donation to the college, Kev Davison, Occupational Development Director, said:
“This donation is a massive help for OTE Construction Training. It gives young people from all walks of life the chance to train with real, industry-leading products. Practicing with the actual products they’ll use on site builds real confidence and sets our apprentices up for the future. We're proud to team up with Polypipe Building Products on this.”
Equipping the next generation of installers
By working closely with providers like OTE Construction, Polypipe Building Products is helping to strengthen the industry’s future workforce, encouraging best practice from the very earliest stages of a career and reinforcing its role in skills development.
As the construction sector continues to evolve, collaboration between manufacturers and education providers will become even more important in ensuring training keeps pace with new technology, regulation and customer expectations.
Jason Nightingale, Head of Marketing at Polypipe Building Products, shared:
“Supporting training facilities like OTE Construction is a vital part of our commitment to the future of our industry. Seeing first-hand how the centre helps build practical confidence and skills is fantastic, and we are proud to provide the products that turn trainees into confident, job-ready groundworkers.”