A TOP Dudley councillor called in at a Stourbridge construction college to mark it's first anniversary.

Twelve months after launching, Construction Central Academy on Rufford Road invited Cllr Steve Clark to take a look at the site.

The academy provides training in a variety of skills including bricklaying, carpentry and joinery.

During his visit on November 5, Cllr Clark, cabinet member for finance at Dudley MBC, chatted with students and presented prizes to top performers.

Cllr Clark said: "It's is an absolutely fantastic initiative, they are teaching trainees to a very high level and training them very quickly to a very high standard so they can get out onto a building site and start work.

"I'm really excited to have Construction Central Academy in Stourbridge which is feeding our local businesses.

"We've helped the academy to work with the combined authority so they are getting revenue in to help to train these young people.

"Now they are expanding, they are going for electrics, plumbing and woodwork so the construction industry is there to be fed with high quality people."

Cllr Clark also pledged to put pressure on central government for more cash.

He said: "I'll be talking to our local MPs and lobbying them to try and make sure we have got money coming into Stourbridge to make sure we are helping the young people to grow to their own potential."