A scheme designed to tackle an alarming skills shortage in the construction industry has been launched at a major regeneration site.

Constructing Futures - a Government-funded project run by City College Brighton and Hove with the council - got under way at Brighton's Station Gateway site, the largest development in the South East.

The project aims to ensure there are enough people to carry out £2 billion-worth of construction work planned for the city during the next ten years.

These include the King Alfred leisure and housing project, an international arena at Black Rock and a housing and retail project at Brighton Marina.

The redevelopment of the Brighton Centre site, the Preston Barracks housing and business park project and a new stadium at Falmer are also on the horizon.

Brighton and Hove lacks sufficient numbers of skilled workers to deliver this scale of development, while unemployment in the city is twice the regional average.

The average age of construction workers in Sussex is 47, which is seen as being too high.

Constructing Futures will encourage closer links between employers and educational establishments to give young people greater access to apprenticeship schemes.

It is based at the Station Gateway site courtesy of Adenstar, a firm of contractors.

For further information, call Brian Bell on 01273 667788 ext 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk