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Skills Shortages

Timothy East
The construction industry (namely services) is suffering from skills shortages without an apparent solution. There has been a flurry of press activity but not much action. How does the industry make itself more attractive to the younger generation? There are short training courses offered but these are not the solution and there are many mature people entering the industry on the promise of a quick buck. The majority of these (that I have encountered) have little passion for the industry and the quality of work can be quite poor. We don't want to end up in a situation whereby these guys are training the next generation.

 

I think that the apprentice schemes should be made easier for SME's to take part in. Many are small concerns and cannot commit to the burden. However, some of these owner operators have so much experience to offer and it's a shame to let the knowledge pass by. Perhaps the 'apprentice' could be in charge of his/her own portfolio and it to be made easier for them to jump between companies to gain their experience? The colleges could hold a register of approved organisations so that the system is not abused by people wanting cheap labour....


I have met youngsters that have been able to attend and pass the first year of college but unable to progress further because they cannot find companies interested in taking them on. How can this be so with the skills crisis? I presume the bureaucracy is putting off the SME's.


I would guess that other industries have similar issues?
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    As a fine example to support Roy's post, here is our main local event supporting apprenticeships www.plymouth.ac.uk/whats-on/apprenticeship-jobs-fair The group here that I was involved with (when I was working in manufacturing) was Plymouth Manufacturers' Group who very much drove (and presumably still drive) the employers agenda - as much as they could with absolutely zero resources.


    I always felt that there was lots of goodwill from all parties, but got frustrated that no-one was really able to drive the agenda far beyond their own self-interest. I'm not being derogatory there: all parties involved are, in the end, trying to run a business and have to be realistic. And have achieved a lot. But I don't know if anyone else remembers the TV advert of a few years ago with the line (in a broad Scottish accent) "we're doing good, but we're not doing great!"


    Sadly I don't think the PEIs have enough clout to achieve much here either. My feeling is that that any managed apprenticeship scheme involving a range of employers of all sizes either has to be government led - which is highly unlikely in the political climate we've had for the last 40 years - or trade association led. I don't know about the construction industry, but in general in the engineering industry it seems to be very difficult to get engineering companies to see the value in supporting trade associations. So maybe we get what we deserve! That said, and I think as a good example, the rail industry have made huge strides in this area through the Rail Delivery Group https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/uk-rail-industry/working-in-rail.html But again, we do have the advantage in this industry of having many reasonable sized employers. It doesn't help the school leavers in my part of the country. (And yes, Devon and Cornwall are based very heavily on skilled work, manufacturing and construction, and in theory should offer lots of opportunities. Just not with big sites. Hence my strong interest in this.)

    Roy, do you know anything about the "Institute for Apprenticeships"? https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/about/


    Cheers,


    Andy
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  • 0
    As a fine example to support Roy's post, here is our main local event supporting apprenticeships www.plymouth.ac.uk/whats-on/apprenticeship-jobs-fair The group here that I was involved with (when I was working in manufacturing) was Plymouth Manufacturers' Group who very much drove (and presumably still drive) the employers agenda - as much as they could with absolutely zero resources.


    I always felt that there was lots of goodwill from all parties, but got frustrated that no-one was really able to drive the agenda far beyond their own self-interest. I'm not being derogatory there: all parties involved are, in the end, trying to run a business and have to be realistic. And have achieved a lot. But I don't know if anyone else remembers the TV advert of a few years ago with the line (in a broad Scottish accent) "we're doing good, but we're not doing great!"


    Sadly I don't think the PEIs have enough clout to achieve much here either. My feeling is that that any managed apprenticeship scheme involving a range of employers of all sizes either has to be government led - which is highly unlikely in the political climate we've had for the last 40 years - or trade association led. I don't know about the construction industry, but in general in the engineering industry it seems to be very difficult to get engineering companies to see the value in supporting trade associations. So maybe we get what we deserve! That said, and I think as a good example, the rail industry have made huge strides in this area through the Rail Delivery Group https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/uk-rail-industry/working-in-rail.html But again, we do have the advantage in this industry of having many reasonable sized employers. It doesn't help the school leavers in my part of the country. (And yes, Devon and Cornwall are based very heavily on skilled work, manufacturing and construction, and in theory should offer lots of opportunities. Just not with big sites. Hence my strong interest in this.)

    Roy, do you know anything about the "Institute for Apprenticeships"? https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/about/


    Cheers,


    Andy
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