Building and hospitality trades call for urgent action from States

Of the 360 apprentices attending the TGI College at the Coutanchez, 68% are in the construction industry.

The Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association has collaborated with the TGI and its predecessors on apprenticeship schemes for 70 years, ensuring young people have an opportunity to train in carpentry and joinery, trowel trades, plumbing and heating, painting and decorating, electrical installations, stonemasonry and welding and fabrication.

It has released a statement, which highlighted 40% growth in construction-industry-related apprenticeship schemes over recent years, but bemoaned the degradation of college facilities.

‘The workshops and training facilities currently available are well past their sell-by date, limit the number of apprentices that can be accommodated and certainly do not help in recruiting school leavers onto those courses and into the construction industry,’ it said.

‘The GBTEA reaction to the recent States debate – and the likely delay to starting work on the new TGI facilities at Les Ozouets due to their failure to fund them – is therefore one of dismay and disappointment.

‘To provide for the next 70 years, a decision must be made and without delay.’

The Coutanchez is also home to two large kitchens – one of which is currently closed due to water leaks – where students can learn the skills needed for the hospitality industry.

There are currently 24 apprentices in catering – an increase of 140% on the previous year.

Guernsey Hospitality Association president Alan Sillett said the TGI College played an important role in developing ‘the next generation of professionally trained staff to ensure viability of the hospitality industry’.

He said having ‘facilities that are well past their sell-by date and are currently unusable due to water ingress’ would ‘impact the sector’.