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| Building Skills for the Future |
Claire Smith looks at how the younger generation is changing its attitudes to working in the construction industry.
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Back in October 2004, the Government announced a proposed shake-up of the country’s education system which will encourage more young people to take up vocational training. The recommendation, by a government-commissioned review of the curriculum for 14-19 year olds, will see A-levels, GCSE’s and existing vocational qualifications replaced by a single diploma as part of the most fundamental overhaul of secondary education in 60 years. Led by former Ofsted chief, Mike Tomlinson, the proposal attempts to reverse the trend of pupils dropping out at sixteen and features a massive cull of public examinations with a greater emphasis on vocational learning.
These reforms were welcomed by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, and welcomed the opportunity it offered to ensure young people are given the education, training and skills required to meet the needs of the construction industry.
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As the UK’s largest industry and its biggest export, the construction industry is currently suffering from a skills shortage. It is estimated that 465,000 new recruits will be needed in the industry over the next five years to meet demand. As a result a number of initiatives have been put in place to encourage young people to take up careers within the industry. One such initiative involves SkillCity - a national interactive careers and training event for young people.
This year the event will be held in London from 6th-9th July and is to be hailed as the biggest event of its kind. A record 120,000 visitors, aged between 12 and 30, are expected to pass through the doors to discover the wealth of skills-based career opportunities that are on offer. Following the success of SkillCity 2002 in Greater Manchester and at Birmingham NEC in 2000, the event will offer young people the chance to experience a ‘hands-on’ approach at a range of skills and obtain information on jobs and careers across a range of industry sectors, including the construction industry.
Government research confirms that the UK is suffering from a significant skills gap compared to its main competitors. The construction industry is suffering from the highest shortfall, with 80 per cent of employers reporting difficulties in recruiting skilled operatives. If new talent is not recruited into the industry on a yearly basis the situation will become untenable and is already significantly limiting the UK’s productivity: it is estimated that the UK loses £10bn each year due to poor skill levels in the workforce.
SkillCity has been designed to raise the status of vocational learning and careers across the UK, by showcasing a vast and diverse variety of skills. Young people have the opportunity to try out work-related skills, speak to experts, celebrities and VIPs about their career choices and get advice and information in an effort to lure them towards a ‘hands-on’ career.
But there is evidence that the current focus on vocational training is rubbing off on today’s younger generation! A recent survey of young people shows a cultural shift towards skills-based careers with 61 per cent of 16-24 year olds saying that it is better to get good quality vocational skills rather than a traditional academic degree. The survey, carried out by Populus on behalf of SkillCity 2005, also found that 50 per cent of the 500 youngsters surveyed, chose vocational training as the most likely path to a secure and rewarding career.
Sir George Russell CBE, Chairman of the SkillCity Advisory Board, and non-executive Deputy Chairman of ITV plc said: “Today there is huge potential for people choosing skills-based careers. Not only do they offer good long-term employment prospects, but the skills deficit in the UK means there are plenty of opportunities amongst an incredibly diverse range of vocational careers. Young people with the right vocational skills are in demand.”
“It’s heartening to see young people recognising the validity of vocational careers and training. A highly skilled workforce is vitally important to society and to the economy, but traditional academic subjects shouldn’t be seen as the first choice for all. Ultimately, there needs to be a balance and that means more people choosing vocational study and careers than they are today,” says Sir George.
The surge in interest in vocational careers is good news for the construction industry. ConstructionSkills has called for wholesale change in attitudes to construction work, which is needed if the industry is to grow in a sustainable way and a generation of young people is to be given opportunities to excel in a competitive and challenging industry.
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Peter Lobban , CEO of CITB-ConstructionSkills, “There has never been a more challenging or exciting time for the construction industry and young people really can see that potential now. Research has shown that there has been a 25 per cent increase in applications to construction courses in 2004 and submissions for apprenticeships grants are up to 30 per cent.”
The future is also looking brighter for construction graduates. Building, architecture and civil engineering graduates are much more likely to find employment shortly after finishing university than those graduating from IT and business related disciplines according to research published in The Times Good University Guide last year. This is not surprising considering that there are plenty of jobs in construction and not nearly enough graduates being generated to fill them.
Whilst it is evident that the situation is starting to turn around there are still some
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courses that are struggling to recruit sufficient students in order to operate. But as illustrated there has been increase in the number of young people taking up construction related courses and apprenticeships as the following two case studies highlight...
Lee Fawcett
Occupation: Joiner
In June 2003, 22 year old Lee Fawcett won the title of the world’s best joiner. He fought off strong competition to win the UK’s first ever gold medal at the 2003 WorldSkills Competition since 1979.
Lee has worked in his father’s joinery workshop, based in Middleham, North Yorkshire and in 2000 he completed his modern apprenticeship gaining NVQs levels 1, 2 and 3 in woodworking.
Lee was already planning his next steps to become a joiner whilst studying for his GCSE’s. As a child he enjoyed watching his father making things in his workshop and this experience inspired his ambition to become a joiner. As soon as he completed his GCSE’s he took up an apprenticeship working for his father and enrolled on a day release course at Darlington Technical College.
Lee acknowledges that the skills acquired during his modern apprenticeship have enabled him to take part in skills competitions and provided the opportunity to travel. Whilst studying at Darlington College he was encouraged to enter a SkillBUILD regional competition (a national competition promoting excellence amongst young craftspeople in the UK) which he won. He then went on to compete at the SkillBUILD national finals held in Northern Ireland. This proved to be a close competition a he eventually drew against a fellow competitor. They then underwent a final selection assessment held in Manchester in 2002 at SkillCity. Here Lee triumphed and qualified to represent the UK team at the 2003 WorldSkills Competition held in Switzerland.
On his WorldSkills experience Lee says, ‘It was a life changing experience for me. I have learnt to work under intense pressure - there is never enough time in these competitions! The training I received in preparation for the event has been invaluable. All the skills I have learnt are transferable and can be used in the work place. I’ve also found that the quality of my work has improved ten-fold. The difference between the projects I completed both before and after the competition is huge’.
Motivated by his new found confidence, Lee has ambitious plans for the future. In five plans to set up his own joinery business but before then he plans to spend time travelling in Australia.
Amy Durrant
Occupation: Welder
Amy Durrant, 23, from Brigg in Lincolnshire undertook a pre-farriery course when she was 16 at Warwickshire College where she gained a BTEC 1st Diploma. From there Amy spent a year as an apprentice to a Farrier. Having had experience in both forge work and welding, Amy decided to embark on a career in welding.
Amy went on to learn welding skills on the ECITB’s National Skills Development Scheme (NSDS) at Mitsui Babcock’s welder training centre.
Amy’s passion for welding grew from strength to strength and in 2002 she successfully competed in the SkillWELD competition. From this Amy was selected to represent the UK in welding at the 2003 WorldSkills Competition, held in St Gallen Switzerland. Amy competed against welders from around the world over a four-day period where she was tested on all aspects of welding practice.
Like other members of the UK team, Amy underwent an intensive sixth month training programme prior to the WorldSkills Competition to sharpen her technical skills. An assessment by City & Guilds confirmed that the scale and quality of this intensive training programme fully met the standards required for the City & Guilds Licentiateship, and so for the first time in 2003, UK Skills and City & Guilds introduced the Licentiateship (LCGI) programme to the training for the UK Team. Amy was awarded the Licentiateship (LCGI) in May 2004.
Amy’s career is going from strength to strength, just over a year ago she started a new job as a Technician Demonstrator with Lincoln Electric.
Amy is determined to continue in the welding industry: “Learning a skill has dramatically altered my career prospects. It has enabled me to be successful in the welding industry and has allowed me to represent the UK at the WorldSkills Competition. The more I learn, the more opportunities there are for a rewarding and varied career in the industry”.
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What is the WorldSkills Competition?
The WorldSkills Competition is an international event that takes place every two years and pitches 38 member countries’ vocational talent across 40 different skill areas ranging from hairdressing and restaurant service to welding and bricklaying. Talented young people are selected through regional and national competitions to represent the UK on an international stage and compete for the title of world champion in their trade. For more information visit www.ukskills.org.uk
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