The first fully-accredited plastering course has started in Bradford aimed at training the workforce of the future.

In the past, people who wanted to train as plasterers have been forced to travel to Leeds or further afield to take courses in the trade.

The new course, brought about by a partnership between Bradford Council’s Links 2 Construction team and Bradford College, is designed to ensure more skilled trades people are available in Bradford when the UK emerges from recession.

Nicky McAlpine, manager of the Links 2 team, said: “We are excited because we have launched the first plastering course in Bradford which encompasses taster courses, full accreditation to NVQ level three and part-time courses. At the moment, locally, the only course you can send plasterers on is in Leeds. Usually, the cream of the crop tend to be picked off by companies in Leeds and then what tends to happen is they move to Leeds and we lose them entirely from our economy.

“This is an ideal opportunity within this recession period to upskill our Bradford residents so that once the recession has ended we have our local workforce on our doorstep.”

Peter Thompson, head of construction at Bradford College, said the current taster courses for unemployed people were a prelude to full-time courses and apprenticeships at the college’s new Trinity Green building from September.

The Links 2 team is planning to add to the plastering course by helping to fund more courses not currently available in Bradford, such as highway maintenance and heritage building work.

Father-of-four Richard Cordingley, of Shipley, was laid off by Butterfield Signs in Sunbridge Road, Bradford, shortly before Christmas. The 29-year-old said: “I saw this plastering course in the Telegraph & Argus so I phoned up and basically thought I would have a taster on it. I am interested in doing plastering and want to further my career down the line.

Nick Brown, 19, of Thorpe Edge, said: “I think it’s great, a good way to get people into employment and training.”