Liverpool’s Construction Academy takes in first cohort at Central Docks

The first 250 City of Liverpool College students have arrived at the school based in the Liverpool Waters site, where the academy has expanded from its original Vauxhall Road campus.

With infrastructure work beginning at the £71m Central Docks, the school will provide a pipeline of apprenticeship opportunities for students in the school’s Construction Academy, as well as graduate job offers.

By attending the school’s site, which overlooks where Graham is carrying out the construction of Peel Waters’ 2,350-home project, students will have direct exposure to on-site work as well as potential fast-tracking into Graham’s team.

Under four purpose-built sheds, students between 16-18 have access to workshops where they are taught brickwork or carpentry.

Lee Grundy, teaching assistant at The Construction Academy, told Place North West the school’s on-site location is ideal.

He said: “It’s good for [the students] to be in this area, seeing the construction going on live around them when they come in for their three days a week.

“There aren’t very many distractions down here, I think you focus more on the work. It’s still in progress, but a lot of the kids do really well.”

He continued: “Compared to other years, we’ve had some really strong classes, and maybe it’s the environment.”

“If they can get that opportunity to work on this site, that’s even better.”

Students attend three days a week and continue to study for foundation Maths and English qualifications if not yet achieved.

Both carpentry and brickwork are taught at the site. Credit: PNW

Peel Waters and The City of Liverpool College have been in partnership for five years and have already progressed individuals from apprentices to employees.

The academy was constructed over the summer of 2025 with deliberate consideration for historically significant assets nearby, such as tram tracks which had carried freight around the docks.

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Alex Black, The City of Liverpool College’s director of estates, said: “The Construction Academy at Liverpool Waters is a huge step forward for our students in this sector.

“It allows them to learn the fundamentals of their chosen career on what is essentially a working site.”

Neil Borg-Olivier, vice principal for curriculum development and innovation at the College, said the school’s Vauxhall Road site had reached full capacity.

“The Construction Academy at Liverpool Waters will allow us to enrol more students who can address the region’s skills shortage in construction.

“It will also allow the College to lease out parts of the Vauxhall Road site to enable more local people to learn skills that will get them he jobs and careers they want.” He said.

Liza Marco, senior asset manager at Liverpool Waters, added: “We’re really pleased to be partnering with The City of Liverpool College to launch The Construction Academy at Liverpool Waters.

“Supporting our local communities and creating a pipeline of new employment opportunities are central to Peel Waters’ vision for each development we regenerate.

“With the scale and ambition of Liverpool Waters, we hope many of the students who train here will go on to play a hands-on role in delivering the transformation of this site, building future homes for people to live in and spaces for people to enjoy.

“Every student who studies and works here will play a huge role in shaping the next chapter of our city’s iconic waterfront.”