The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) is offering a range of construction apprenticeship and skills based training courses, such as electrical courses, plumbing, carpentry, dry lining and bricklaying.

The Construction Skills Network’s (CSN) Industrial Insights 2016-2020 report shows that the industry is due to grow by 2.5% every year and by 3.5% in Greater London.

Fiona McKinney, 24 studied at CONEL as part of an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery with Haringey Council’s housing service Homes for Haringey in 2009-11, where she still works today.

She went on to secure the top prize in the Association for Public Service Excellence National Housing and Building Apprentice of the Year Awards.

She commented: “I didn’t really like school and wasn’t that academic.

“Woodwork was the only thing I had an interest in and I managed to get an apprenticeship with Homes for Haringey and on a course at CONEL.”

Meanwhile, 31 year old Adam Tezzare began an apprenticeship with T Clarke, a nationwide building services contractor delivering mechanical, electrical and ICT services, in June, having previously studied for a Level 1 and a Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation.

According to the report published by CSN, in Greater London alone over 18,000 jobs are set to be created over the next five year period.

Each year the capital will require around 1,210 builders, 480 glaziers, 420, wood and interior fitters, 200 floorers and 480 non-construction operatives.

The demand for skilled workers has resulted from strong investment in commercial and infrastructure projects and a growth in private housing, at levels not seen since before the start of the recession in 2008.

In Greater London there are also a number of large projects in the rail industry which are also expected to continue to require skilled workers over the coming years, including Crossrail, HS2 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel.