WINNING WORK WITH APPRENTICES
Beatrice Orchard - CCATF Co-ordinator
CCATF Chairman, Geoff Lister is concerned about figures released by CITB-ConstructionSkills in the summer which highlighted the alarming reality facing the construction sector.
Their survey results show the number of 16-19 year olds in the industry has fallen by 52 percent since 2008, and only one in ten workers is aged 24 or under. This is combined with a large increase in the percentage of older workers in the industry with nearly 20 percent only ten years or less off retirement.
Find out how your business can benefit
Apprenticeships are a recognised route into the industry, particularly for young people who want to combine study with all the benefits of paid employment. It is obvious that the recession placed a huge strain on the industry’s ability to recruit and train new talent and to maintain a sustainable number of younger workers. The Government’s figures show the total number of apprenticeship starts in construction subject areas fell by almost 14 percent in the year 2009/10.
The Labour Party’s response to the growing problem of unemployment among the under-25s has been to call on the Government to use public sector contracts to increase the number of apprenticeship places. The Government spends £220 billion a year on goods and services from the private sector and is the top single contractor in many sectors, including construction. Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls MP, says the Government is uniquely placed to use this spending power to increase the number of apprenticeships by thousands by requiring businesses to have an apprenticeship scheme before they can win a government contract.
Employers need to be at the heart of this plan so that together with the Government they can create genuinely sustainable jobs. The industry must consistently strive for training solutions even despite the economic climate if it is to avoid a major skills shortage.
Geoff Lister, FCIOB, CCATF Chairman
BCONSTRUCTIVE
One of the solutions designed to help match would-be apprentices with employers is the new bConstructive website. The website has recently been re-launched by CITB-ConstructionSkills. It provides information and advice for everyone looking for a career in construction industry, as well as an online application system. Furthermore, the site helps employers learn more about what is involved in taking on an apprentice and the support available.
Why not take a look at the website and find out how your business can benefit www.bconstructive.co.uk/en/employers.aspx
Geoff Lister, FCIOB
