Ian Hodgkinson, who owns Hodgkinson Builders in Pride Park, has teamed up with Derby College to launch the new initiative.

The Hodgkinson Brickwork Academy will open this September teaching practical brickwork skills and theory.

Students will also benefit from individual support and mentoring from Hodgkinson and his team plus practical work experience and a guaranteed interview with the company at the completion of their one or two year course.

An open day for young people interested in joining the academy will be held on Thursday May 21 between 2pm and 7pm at the College’s Ilkeston campus in Pimlico.

Hodgkinson said: “We have politicians on all sides promising great house building programmes but, at the present rate, we will struggle to find the people to build them.

“This is both a threat to the economy but also a huge opportunity for those learning a trade, especially brickwork. We can and must do something about this.

“This is where our new academy comes in. I’ve worked with Derby College on their Employment and Skills Board and always been very impressed by their facilities and their teaching.

“If we can bring business experience and their programmes together, we can create a pipeline of ‘oven-ready’ apprentices.

“Working together, we will produce a new generation of talented, ambitious, motivated and highly skilled bricklayers who can bridge this skills gap. This is a partnership of huge potential.”

Derby College Business Development Director April Hayhurst added: “As a College we are committed to working with employers to ensure that the skills we are developing in young people today are those required by businesses in the future.

“This will build on the current Construction programme – taking an innovative master-class approach with a major influence from one of the leading contractors in the industry.

“We will be working with Ian and his team in a cohesive partnership using blended delivery to help our students develop tangible life and trade skills.

“They will regularly experience a real ‘day in the life’ of a bricklayer and ultimately have a vastly improved chance of landing a well-paid job at the end of their time in the academy.”