AN EAST Renfrewshire company engaged in major social housing refurbishment projects has launched its own academy for construction trainees to safeguard its future workforce, highlighting industry skills shortages.

Barrhead-based AC Whyte & Co has developed the 12-month course for trainee external wall insulation installers, in partnership with West College Scotland, combining classroom teaching with on-the-job training.

The company, which was founded in 1973 and is a major player in the refurbishment sector, specialises in installing external wall insulation for local authority, housing association and private homes.

AC Whyte, which employs about 160 people, said the first 12 candidates would begin their training at West College Scotland’s Greenock campus this month.

Jennifer Phin, managing director of AC Whyte, said: “The wider construction industry has faced the challenge of a skills shortage for some time and recently we have found fewer young, local people entering the labour market looking for this type of work.”

She added: “Many are unaware of the opportunities available to them and we have to be more pro-active than ever before in reaching out to people in the communities where we operate. We’ve held open-door events, and developing our own skills academy is an extension of that.”