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But according to ConstructionSkills in 2006 the construction industry in England missed out on at least 12,000 recruits due to the shortage of vacancies offered by employers.
Constructionskills is the Sector Skills Council, it works to deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified workforce, it is a government backed body that acts to implement skills agreements between bodies responsible for delivering skills in the UK and those that demand them.
ConstructionSkills is now calling on the industry to make sure that 2007 is the best year yet for employers offering apprenticeship placements. So far this year over 25,000 young people in England have applied to ConstructionSkills hoping to gain a start in the industry. Already nearly 6,000 candidates have passed the organisation’s selection test for all apprenticeship applicants, which ensures they meet appropriate standards -and now it’s down to industry to see that these willing and able candidates get the start they crave. The drive to recruit more employers follows the Government’s announcement earlier this year that by 2013 they want more young people continuing in post-16 training and education. In addition, next month, the Government is expected to back Lord Leitch’s recommendations for improving UK skills, including a target of 500,000 people on apprenticeships across all sectors by 2020.There are currently only 250,000 apprentices working in all sectors. ConstructionSkills is calling on employers of all sizes to recognise construction apprentices as a vital resource, and to commit to helping young people enter the industry. In order to support this ConstructionSkills has introduced Programme Led Apprenticeships (PLAs), a new complementary route to Traditional Apprenticeships. PLAs will allow young people to complete a full-time construction based college based course before completing the practical aspects required to attain NVQ Level 2 through a continuous placement of up to 12 months with an employer, a much shorter time commitment for businesses than Traditional Apprentices.
Director of ConstructionSkills Apprenticeship Max Hamps said: “Apprentices are essential to the construction industry and they can be an invaluable asset to any company. There are hundreds of quality young people on ConstructionSkills Apprenticeships’ books who have already passed selection tests and are eager to work in the industry. Unfortunately many firms still think that taking on an apprentice is costly or time consuming, or that drop out rates are high, but at over 70% ConstructionSkills apprentices have some of the best completion rates in the industry and we are committed to finding the right apprentice to suit each construction business.”
ConstructionSkills places approximately 9,500 apprentices per year through its Apprenticeship Division - all of whom have been pre-screened to establish that they are of a good standard. To help the employer and the apprentice through the apprenticeship, ConstructionSkills offers ongoing mentoring and support from an Apprenticeship Officer as well as ConstructionSkills Grant of up to £8,000 over three years for traditional apprenticeships, to support training.
The importance of bringing through and encouraging new talent is highlighted by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which has begun a hunt for apprentices who have already made their name in the construction industry.
The Apprentice of the Year Awards 2007 is a nationwide search for the cream of the construction industry’s talent, with a £1,000 top prize. The competition is run in conjunction with the FMB’s Master Builder of the Year Awards and is open to any UK apprentice in the construction industry, not just those who are working for FMB member firms.
Last year’s Apprentice of the Year, 19-year old Sean Facey was an apprentice for small family firm S & M Marsh. With his exceptional carpentry skills, project management and a ‘can do’ attitude, Sean won the top prize of £1,000 and his training officer and boss each won a luxury all inclusive weekend break at a Paramount Hotel.
Apprenticeships offered by quality building firms ensure that Britain builds a high standard of craftsmen and women for the future, says the FMB and it is determined to reward these, often overlooked, talented young people, whose hard work, outstanding ability and ‘can do’ attitude provides a valuable contribution to the businesses they work for.
“The construction industry is the UK’s largest industry and it struggles to maintain a skilled, qualified workforce. The Apprentice of the Year Award not only offers the chance to put talented and deserving young people from the industry in the spotlight, but may also encourage other young people to consider a career in one of the construction trades,” said Richard Diment, director general of the FMB.
The FMB is seeking nominations for The Apprentice of the Year 2007 from employers, customers, tutors or members of the ConstructionSkills regional teams.
The closing date for entries is 31st July and Sarah Beeny will present the winners with their awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, on 8th November 2007.
It is good to know that the importance of new blood in building industries is being recognized and acted on by trade bodies and other organizations. These young people are, after all, for many among Toolbusiness+Hire’s readership the customers of the future. That there is recognized need for them is also a sign of the healthy state of the industries the tool trade supplies.
On the Web:
www.cskills.org
www.fmb.org.uk
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Airstream Business Communications Ltd