Another acquisition as Hercules adds professional training expert to business portfolio

The transaction is set to increase capacity of Hercules’ training academy, in Nuneaton, which was launched in January 2024 and has trained more than 1,500 people to date.  

Hercules will absorb QTT’s employees into its own facility as part of plans to ramp up the number of courses it will offer.  

This marks Hercules’ second acquisition as part of its M&A strategy, after its purchase of Future Build Recruitment Limited in November 2023. 

Hercules chief executive, Brusk Korkmaz, said: “The Hercules Academy was established to address the well documented skills shortages facing the infrastructure and construction sectors. 

“QTT’s expertise in vocational training will add to the fantastic work already being done by the Academy team.  

“This is another important step for Hercules to become one of the UK’s leading providers of skilled labour and training for the infrastructure and construction sectors.” 

QTT specialises in helping the unemployed into work through funded training programmes, in partnership with local authorities, probation services, and employers, as well as the Department for Education (DfE) – contracts which will now be transferred to Cirencester-headquartered Hercules. 

The labour shortage in construction 

A report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) last year, revealed 251,000 extra construction workers are required by 2028 to meet demand. This is significant with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill’s promise to build 1.5 million homes over five years. 

The pressure to reach 300,000 homes a year hangs on the success of its investment to train more construction workers by 2029 and invest in domestic ‘workforce and training plans’. However, Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist at the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), said without migrant workers, the workforce strategy risks stalling growth and delivery. 

Restoring Control over the Immigration System, an immigration white paper, published in May, outlines measures for employers to increase the domestic workforce, and in turn, halt reliance on overseas labour. 

Tougher visa policies include increasing the salary thresholds for foreign workers and imposing higher fees on businesses for those that do employ workers from abroad. 

Experts have warned the framework’s impact will significantly affect employers, including those in the construction industry struggling to recruit workers. 

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