Pictured above: Frank and Mick Dunne

An Ilkeston firm which delivers training packages for the construction industry has struck gold ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Upskill, based at Wharncliffe Road, devised and has started to deliver a training package for a major contractor who is building a £400m centre as part of the massive project in East London.

The specially-tailored training, brought in under new guidance from the United Kingdom Contractors Group, ensures that people have sufficient skills to be effective supervisors and managers of workers.

As well as developing the training, which takes place over two-days on courses in the capital, Upskill is evaluating the training as part of the overall package.

Initially, 40 people have taken part and Upskill director Frank Dunne hopes that this will be extended to more people on this scheme and other projects.

"We are over the moon that a major civil engineering contractor has selected a small company likes ours to play a vital part in this flagship project," he said. "We feel like winners ourselves."

This prestigious project alone is worth £10,000 to Upskill, but another deal with the same contractor on a totally different theme increases this income up to £50,000.

The second deal is to deliver training and assessment for the contractor who is working on a scheme to upgrade 24 miles of the A1 in Yorkshire into a three-lane motorway.

Upskill has just started to deliver this training, initially for 100 workers from site operators to senior supervisors, which is expected to last a year.

The company had to come up with a cost-effective way of delivering training programmes on site but in way so as not to disrupt work on the road-building.

"These two are among the country's biggest civil engineering projects and Upskill is actively involved in training people on both of them," said Frank. 

"We have worked hard to secure these contracts and are delighted to have proved at the highest level that our training methods are effective.

"We would urge local construction companies to contact us as there may be opportunities for us to provide a range of comprehensive training packages in National Vocational Qualifications, New Roads and Street Works Qualifications for workers at greatly subsidised rates."

Last year the company invested £100,000 in setting up a set up a base at Horsley Woodhouse, where people could be trained in construction skills and earn qualifications so as to be ready fill a gap in the market as the economy improved.

Among those using it are more than 150 young offenders learning construction skills to help them into work.

"The feedback that we have had from participants is that the training is relevant, enjoyable and helping boost their self-confidence," said fellow director and twin brother Mick who runs that operation.

"We are delighted that some of those on these three week courses have had their ideas about work transformed and that some of them have already successfully applied for jobs. For some of them this is the first time they have ever been employed."