Leeds College of Building overwhelmed by generous construction crafts donation

Teaching staff at Leeds College of Building are elated after receiving eleven articulated trailers of equipment donated by Legal & General.

The materials and tools will be used to train the next generation of construction professionals enrolled across the College’s North Street and South Bank Campuses.

The donation includes 60 pallets of fire, moisture, and general-purpose grade plasterboards, bathroom suites, consumer units, switches and sockets, timber flooring, internal doors, plinths and skirting, paint, workshop vacuums cleaners, strip lights, mini skips, toolboxes, timber chop saws, portable power tools, a pallet of spirit levels, plumbing consumables, and more.

Richard Longley, Managing Director in Legal & General Capital’s housing division:

“When an opportunity arose to further develop tradespeople of the future, we were delighted to be able to offer our support to Leeds College of Building and contribute to the next generation of UK home builders. A lot of our own team came through the College’s doors to learn their trades, so it’s wonderful to give something back.” 

The Legal & General donation will be split across multiple departments and used to benefit most of the Construction Crafts trainees at the College. This includes students and apprentices studying plastering, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, wall and floor tiling, multi-skills, brickwork, plumbing, welding, and electrical specialisms.

Wayne Chappelow, Head of Construction Crafts at Leeds College of Building, said:

“We have worked with Legal & General for many years to establish qualifications that met their needs and placed several apprentices with them. This donation is the latest development in our partnership, and we are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity!

“My thanks go to Legal & General for this incredible donation of materials, tools, and equipment. It will help to ensure Leeds College of Building students receive the best possible training for successful employment as they go into the workplace.

“We rely on essential material donations like these to continue our training and are so grateful to the exceptional businesses that work with us regularly. This work is vital to build the construction workforce of the future and boost the number of skilled professionals needed to fill critical skills gaps across trades.”

A significant part of the donation includes brand new tools and equipment designed for “tape and fill” – a key skill in the dry lining industry and an area where Legal & General found a significant shortage of talent. Other equipment includes general and battery-operated hand tools, PPE and RPE such as air-fed face masks, and specialist Teflon-coated setting-out tables for welded, brazed, and soldered components to be used in the fabrication and welding department.

Legal & General’s donations are the latest in a series of substantial material donations to the College, including roofing supplies donated by SR Timber, Glidevale Protect, CUPA Pizarras, BMI UK& Ireland, Rinus Roofing Supplied Ltd, Hunslet Roofing Supplies Ltd, Wienerberger UK, Velux, Midland Lead Ltd, Hambleside Danelaw, Monument Tools Ltd, Permavent Ltd, and more.

Find out more about Construction Craft courses at the next Leeds College of Building open event on Thursday 22 February (5 – 7 pm, North Street Campus). Register for your free place at www.lcb.ac.uk/events.