Construction and engineering training in East Lothian is helping young people into work while bolstering local firms, with new courses delivered from the Construction Skills Centre at Wallyford Learning Campus.

Established by East Lothian Council to address industry demand, the centre offers certificated programmes such as Introduction to Construction and Access to Fabrication and Welding. These are delivered on-site by Edinburgh College and are available to young people through a partnership with the council.

East Lothian Council's Leader and Provost, Councillors Norman Hampshire and John McMillan, visited Had Fab, a leading structural engineering and fabrication company in the county, to meet apprentices and staff. Among them were first-year apprentices who had completed qualifications at the centre and secured roles through the firm's established apprenticeship programme.

Council Leader Councillor Norman Hampshire said: "The Construction Skills Centre was developed in response to analysis of regional skills gaps. The construction industry is growing and needs new workers to meet projected output. Together with Edinburgh College, we wanted to harness this demand by offering young people opportunities to gain qualifications in this area while also benefiting local business and the wider sector."

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He added: "I was delighted to visit Had Fab and to see firsthand the impact our investment is already having. The company has given us excellent feedback on the quality of our graduates and their preparedness to join the workforce, and we look forward to finding new ways to develop this important industry partnership."

"As apprentices, these young people can now benefit from all of the career opportunities available to them in a leading business with a busy order book, all from East Lothian."

Had Fab employs around 200 people, most based at Macmerry, and provides multidisciplinary services from concept design to completed project delivery across sectors including power transmission, energy and rail. This gives apprentices experience across diverse projects alongside a highly skilled team.

Fiona Ogg, the Chief People Officer from Had Fab said: "Supporting local talent into long-term, high-quality careers is a priority for us. Our partnership with the Construction Skills Centre is already making a meaningful difference to our workforce. The young people joining our apprenticeship programme through this pathway arrive with strong foundational skills and confidence to work in a modern engineering environment."

Sandy Bruce, Head of School – Engineering at Edinburgh College, said: "Our partnership with East Lothian Council is central to the success of the Access to Fabrication and Welding course. It gives young people a clear route into engineering while ensuring employers like Had Fab can draw on local talent with the right foundation to progress. As industry demands continue to grow, this collaboration helps us respond quickly and gives East Lothian a stronger skills base that supports long-term economic growth."