Rob Burnham’s Post

Can Fast-Track Apprentices Be Just as Good? The UK construction industry is undergoing significant change with initiatives aimed at addressing the skills shortage. The National House-Building Council (NHBC) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are at the forefront, planning to open up to 32 new training centres. The goal is to provide up to 5,000 more apprenticeship places annually by 2028. This plan includes an innovative approach: condensing training durations to just 12-18 months, down from the traditional 24-30 months. The question on many professionals' minds is whether these fast-tracked apprenticeships can produce workers of the same calibre. The NHBC and CITB believe so, arguing that modern "competence frameworks" and "standardisation" allow for safe, efficient training. NHBC's Roger Morton suggests that shorter training periods might even reduce the high dropout rate of 47%. However, sceptics like David Crosthwaite warn about potential quality issues and whether this will make a significant dent in the industry's needs given the annual loss of around 70,000 workers. The government, while vocally supportive, has not committed any direct funding, focusing instead on policy backing. Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith has projected a positive outlook, linking the initiative to the broader goal of building 1.5 million homes. For young apprentices like Ben Thorburn and Tegan Pryor, the fast-track system offers a practical and appealing solution, enabling them to enter the workforce swiftly and meet financial responsibilities sooner. Is this fast-track approach the solution our industry needs, or are we trading short-term gains for long-term issues? Share your thoughts in the comments below or get in touch for a deeper discussion. Visit constructivemoves.com for more insights and opportunities. #Construction #Apprenticeships #UKBuilders #Constructivemoves

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is investing nearly £150 million into apprenticeship grants between 2023 and 2025 to urge construction firms to pursue them. CITB claims 31 per cent of construction employers are considering taking on an apprentice, according to the latest Employer Voice survey. Another survey found with another 48 per cent of employers stated they may take an apprentice on. The Industry body set up its New Entrant Support Team (NEST) to help employers navigate the recruitment process, as well as access grants and suitable training, when and where needed. NEST was launched in 2023, with CITB claiming to have helped more than 2,318 people start an apprenticeship that year through it. This follows a report by CITB in May revealed that 251,000 extra construction workers are required by 2028 to meet demand, with 31 percent of construction employers finding suitably skilled staff remains their key challenge. CITB welcomed the Labour Government placing construction industry skills “at the heart of driving economic growth” which the CITB believes Skills England will play an important role in. In total, CITB has supported more than 29,000 apprentices during their courses in 2023. Since 2020, CITB has issued more than 72,000 apprenticeship grants for individual learners and delivered 5,700 apprenticeship courses at the National Construction Colleges. During the same period, more than 26,000 apprenticeship grants were awarded to construction employers. Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said: “A strong apprenticeship pipeline is vital for SME employers and a healthy construction industry. “Over two-thirds of apprenticeship starts in the construction industry are employed by companies of fewer than 50 employees. “We’re seeing strong demand for our apprenticeship and qualification grants, and we want to keep up the momentum. “There are over 100 different construction apprenticeship roles that lead to careers in construction, and we encourage employers and people considering joining the industry to consider what apprenticeship role could work for them. “As well as continuing to drive up apprenticeship start numbers, we also need to improve retention and attract apprentices to pursue a career in construction. “Currently some 60 per cent of further education learners on construction courses do not end up in the industry – we need to tackle this issue with effective recruitment and training while promoting the benefits of joining the industry.” [Construction Wave] #recruitment #skillsgap #apprenticeship #construction #CITB

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is investing nearly £150 million into apprenticeship grants between 2023 and 2025 to urge construction firms to pursue them. CITB claims 31 per cent of construction employers are considering taking on an apprentice, according to the latest Employer Voice survey. Another survey found with another 48 per cent of employers stated they may take an apprentice on. The Industry body set up its New Entrant Support Team (NEST) to help employers navigate the recruitment process, as well as access grants and suitable training, when and where needed. NEST was launched in 2023, with CITB claiming to have helped more than 2,318 people start an apprenticeship that year through it. This follows a report by CITB in May revealed that 251,000 extra construction workers are required by 2028 to meet demand, with 31 percent of construction employers finding suitably skilled staff remains their key challenge. CITB welcomed the Labour Government placing construction industry skills “at the heart of driving economic growth” which the CITB believes Skills England will play an important role in. In total, CITB has supported more than 29,000 apprentices during their courses in 2023. Since 2020, CITB has issued more than 72,000 apprenticeship grants for individual learners and delivered 5,700 apprenticeship courses at the National Construction Colleges. During the same period, more than 26,000 apprenticeship grants were awarded to construction employers. Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said: “A strong apprenticeship pipeline is vital for SME employers and a healthy construction industry. “Over two-thirds of apprenticeship starts in the construction industry are employed by companies of fewer than 50 employees. “We’re seeing strong demand for our apprenticeship and qualification grants, and we want to keep up the momentum. “There are over 100 different construction apprenticeship roles that lead to careers in construction, and we encourage employers and people considering joining the industry to consider what apprenticeship role could work for them. “As well as continuing to drive up apprenticeship start numbers, we also need to improve retention and attract apprentices to pursue a career in construction. “Currently some 60 per cent of further education learners on construction courses do not end up in the industry – we need to tackle this issue with effective recruitment and training while promoting the benefits of joining the industry.” [Construction Wave] #recruitment #skillsgap #apprenticeship #construction #CITB

The government’s plan to create 5,000 #apprenticeships #annually to address the #construction #skills #gap is ambitious but requires deeper scrutiny. The construction sector faces critical procurement challenges, including inflated material costs, inconsistent project pipelines, and fragmented supply chains, which could undermine the effectiveness of new initiatives. Without addressing these issues, training programmes risk producing skilled workers for unsustainable projects. Why is the following not being considered: 𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: Current inefficiencies in procurement, such as delayed payments and lack of transparency, create uncertainties that deter investment in workforce development. 𝟮. 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘆: Tradespeople’s wages often fail to reflect the skill and risk involved, discouraging entry into the sector. Apprenticeships may amplify this issue if not aligned with competitive pay scales. 𝟯. 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘀: Many trades already face skill misalignment, with outdated training failing to meet modern construction demands, such as sustainability and digital technology integration. 𝟰. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Adding apprentices without ensuring consistent demand could lead to underemployment, particularly as housing targets often fall short due to broader economic constraints. Instead of simply increasing numbers, the focus should shift toward integrating apprenticeships into a sustainable, well-funded pipeline of projects. Collaboration between contractors, housing providers, and policymakers is vital to address the root issues in procurement and fair compensation. Only by embedding these changes into the programme can we build a construction workforce fit for the future while ensuring resilience in an evolving market. #TransformConstruction #FutureProofWorkforce #FairPay #Collaboration #Compliance #EthicalInvestment AJS Scaffolding https://lnkd.in/ek_x-8WT

Latest from FE News: New skills hubs launched to get Britain building: 5,000 more construction apprenticeship places will be made available per year thanks to £140m industry investment to get Britain building again. A total of 32… New skills hubs launched to get Britain building was published on FE News by Department for Education (DfE) #EducationNewsFENews Read more here:

Approx 15,000 new apprentices registered in 2023-24, up 21% from the previous year and above the annual average of 12,000 to 13,000. The construction sector also saw increases. In 2023-24, there was a 17% increase in overall apprenticeship registration. https://lnkd.in/gWQBp3A4

Government’s new degree apprenticeship funding plans are a major blow to construction firms The government’s new plans to restrict levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships will widen the skills gap, hinder the economy and have a significant financial impact on construction firms needing to develop future managers, business leaders or fill specialist roles. The warning comes from the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) which has produced a new national report in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University to explore the critical purpose of training apprentices of all ages to deliver jobs of the future. The report also explores the importance of older apprentices to employers in a shifting labour market and the impact higher and degree apprenticeships, such as those at level 7, have on firms from a growth, employee retention, skills and productivity perspective. Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive for UVAC commented: “The government’s policy aims to reduce levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships is a major blow to construction employers, the wider economy and the skills development of both senior level staff and those in specialist roles such as technology. “It will largely affect those businesses with apprentices aged over 25 that rely on the current financial support to meet the cost of upskilling employees to be effective managers, business leaders or occupy more technical roles via level 7 and master’s degree apprenticeships. Full Story: https://buff.ly/4flgE7Q #ConstructionNews #Construction #QuantitySurveyors #Estimators #Recruitment

Government’s new degree apprenticeship funding plans are a major blow to construction firms The government’s new plans to restrict levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships will widen the skills gap, hinder the economy and have a significant financial impact on construction firms needing to develop future managers, business leaders or fill specialist roles. The warning comes from the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) which has produced a new national report in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University to explore the critical purpose of training apprentices of all ages to deliver jobs of the future. The report also explores the importance of older apprentices to employers in a shifting labour market and the impact higher and degree apprenticeships, such as those at level 7, have on firms from a growth, employee retention, skills and productivity perspective. Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive for UVAC commented: “The government’s policy aims to reduce levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships is a major blow to construction employers, the wider economy and the skills development of both senior level staff and those in specialist roles such as technology. “It will largely affect those businesses with apprentices aged over 25 that rely on the current financial support to meet the cost of upskilling employees to be effective managers, business leaders or occupy more technical roles via level 7 and master’s degree apprenticeships. Full Story: https://buff.ly/4flgE7Q #ConstructionNews #Construction #QuantitySurveyors #Estimators #Recruitment

Government’s new degree apprenticeship funding plans are a major blow to construction firms The government’s new plans to restrict levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships will widen the skills gap, hinder the economy and have a significant financial impact on construction firms needing to develop future managers, business leaders or fill specialist roles. The warning comes from the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) which has produced a new national report in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University to explore the critical purpose of training apprentices of all ages to deliver jobs of the future. The report also explores the importance of older apprentices to employers in a shifting labour market and the impact higher and degree apprenticeships, such as those at level 7, have on firms from a growth, employee retention, skills and productivity perspective. Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive for UVAC commented: “The government’s policy aims to reduce levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships is a major blow to construction employers, the wider economy and the skills development of both senior level staff and those in specialist roles such as technology. “It will largely affect those businesses with apprentices aged over 25 that rely on the current financial support to meet the cost of upskilling employees to be effective managers, business leaders or occupy more technical roles via level 7 and master’s degree apprenticeships. Full Story: https://buff.ly/4flgE7Q #ConstructionNews #Construction #QuantitySurveyors #Estimators #Recruitment