Conservative MP, Ranil Jayawardena, has called on more people to join the construction industry during a visit to a huge local leisure centre redevelopment.

Jayawardena visited the Hart Leisure Centre site to experience construction industry work first hand and to meet the next generation of talent in the industry.

Hart Leisure Centre is a £23 million project being constructed by Willmott Dixon in Fleet, Hampshire.

Over the next five years, CITB has forecasted that more than 230,000 new construction jobs will be created in the UK, meaning that more workers are needed urgently in the industry.

MP for North East Hampshire, Jayawardena said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. It just proves how successful and rewarding a career in construction can be. After experiencing this first-hand, I would encourage everyone to consider a career in construction.”

Meanwhile, CITB Partnership Manager, Hayley Coe, said that such site visits are a great way to inspire more people to pursue a career in construction and it is an excellent chance to show how rewarding a career in the industry can be.

Coe added: “There is no better time than now, with over 8,500 new construction jobs expected to be created over in the South East over the next five years.

She also urged anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in construction to visit the industry website – Go Construct.

The Hart Leisure Centre site recently opened its gates to the public as part of Open Doors 2016 – a joint initiative between the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Build UK.

The new centre recently celebrated a significant milestone as the ‘topping out’ ceremony took place earlier in the week.

Tim Southern, council chairman, said: “The structure is impressive and now the building is at its highest point we will see the centre come to life.”