Former and current military personnel are being encouraged to embark on a career in sustainable home refurbishments as the Ministry of Defence (MOD) offer credits for courses from the UK’s driving force in retrofit skills and knowledge. Funding for accredited retrofit training and qualifications from The Retrofit Academy has been made available through the MOD’s Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS) scheme. Ex-service and military personnel who are eligible for the scheme can apply for funding towards The Retrofit Academy’s full suite of training courses and qualifications, ranging from levels three to five, including the following: With over 400,000 retrofitters required to upgrade 27 million homes across the UK by 2050, this opportunity to start a career path as a qualified Retrofit Advisor, Assessor, or Coordinator is more accessible. Using skills learned from these courses, newly qualified retrofitters will be equipped to provide the knowledge that local authorities, social housing providers or their appointed contractors need to make the right decarbonisation upgrades to their building stock. This urgency to fill the growing number of green roles has accelerated following the government’s announcement of over £1.8bn in funding through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). With local authorities, housing associations and contractors receiving the capital injection to drive forward with retrofit programmes, ELCAS applicants can use funding to become qualified retrofitters and contribute to these projects. Once graduated from their course, they will also have access to the Retrofit Academy Careers Hub, a platform that brings new retrofitters together with the key employers across the UK. Here, the ELCAS graduates can access information about and connect with prospective employers, look for job vacancies and access knowledge resources and training opportunities. David Pierpoint, CEO of The Retrofit Academy, said: “With the growth of retrofit projects comes a need to address the acute skills gap and fill roles required to deliver success at scale. We are the Workforce Development Partner working with local authorities, housing associations and contractors, addressing the practical retrofit skills gap across the sector by determining how many new people are required to enter the industry to deliver successful retrofit at scale. “Being able to make our courses available through the ELCAS Scheme is one way we are working to bring more qualified retrofitters into the industry to develop a workforce capable of delivering high quality retrofit at scale. For eligible military personnel, there is no better time to join the retrofit industry as more and more job vacancies open up.” Ex-service and military personnel must first contact their MOD authorising personnel, or Single Service Representative for all out-of-service applicants, to establish their eligibility for ECL funding. This is unique to the individual and depends on factors such as their previous use of funding and length of service. For more information about The Retrofit Academy and their educational courses, please click here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Young people say jobs in construction are among their top five career choices, as a result of companies in the sector working in schools and colleges to help develop skills and showcase routes into the industry like apprenticeships. A survey of 100,000 young people by the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education, shows that by the time students are doing their GCSEs (Year 11), construction is one of the top job choices, along with creative and media, healthcare, business and finance and engineering. This contrasts with when they start secondary school (Year 7) when sports, creative, working with animals and beauty are their favourite career paths, highlighting the influence companies can have in sparking interest in their sector through working with schools and colleges. The findings come as the latest report from Build UK and CITB shows the construction sector needs to recruit nearly 50,000 new entrants each year to maintain output. This at a time when both the Government and Labour Opposition are emphasising the need for a significant step-up in house building to meet housing needs and generate economic growth. Leading construction companies like Mace, Thakeham, Wilmott Dixon, Morgan Sindall and Wates are now active in the education sector, working with young people to develop the skills the industry is looking for and signpost career pathways. Many firms are using the CEC’s Employer Standards to guide and get the most impact from their work in schools.  The tool also allows to them to compare their outreach efforts to others in their sector and beyond. Further research among the business community by CEC shows more than nine in ten construction companies (97%) say working with schools and colleges is helping develop new talent pipelines and encouraging young people to take up careers in their sector. More than four in five (87%) say it’s helping close skills gaps, with 91 per cent saying it’s boosting recruitment for jobs and apprenticeship roles. Eighty-four per sent say it’s helping improve the diversity of their workforce. The survey also highlights wider business benefits from the work construction companies are doing with young people in education: Rita Patel Miller, Associate Director of Sustainability at Mace Group says: “Careers education is essential to Mace to ensure we create the next generation of talent we need right across our business. “Building essential skills is beneficial, because it means we can help young people and new entrants really understand and be prepared for the workplace of today and what employers are looking for. “By going out into schools and connecting with young people you can shape the future of your workforce, so why wouldn’t you do it.” Oli de Botton, CEO of the Careers & Enterprise Company says: “Many construction companies are now leading the way working in the education sector to help develop the talent they need. “Getting young people ready for work involves building skills with rigour and with the help of employers. “More and more businesses are getting involved in education and getting in early. For an increasing number, recruitment now starts in Year 7. “Modern careers education brings employers and educators together – giving young people a direct line of sight into work and helping employers understand their future work force.  When we get this right, we have a skills agenda that works for business and young people.” TOP JOBS?…. Top job choices when starting secondary school (Year 7) Top job choices when doing GCSEs (Year 11) Sports Creative & Media Creative Healthcare Working with animals Business & Finance Beauty Engineering   Construction Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) put the spotlight on skills yesterday, when it hosted its members at the Houses of Parliament for a reception focused on ensuring the provision of quality support and improving access to training and talent are identified as top policy priorities.  In a room full of a experts from all corners of the industry, from housebuilders and contractors to scaffolders and trainers, members were addressed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, the Rt Hon Gillian Keegan, MP. She commented, “I know that the construction industry has serious skills challenges and I know how important it is to educate people who take an out of date, short term, view about the careers offered by your sector. I understand that it (construction) offers great opportunities here and around the world. We need to make sure it is showcased in schools so that young people can see what’s available to them. I welcome the work that the NASC and NFB are doing to highlight how dynamic and rewarding construction can be.”  This reception was held as part of a joint initiative with the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC). Mark Wakeford, incoming Chair of the NFB, stated, “The reception highlighted the need for more skilled people within our two essential and allied sectors, and allowed us to make our case for a coordinated approach across Government to work with industry to enable access to our sector and to support professionalisation. We are confident that there are friends across Government and industry who will work together to help solve this national skills crisis.”  In respect of ensuring learners have employment security, Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the NFB added: “Effective planning and procurement reform is also key to securing a strong pipeline of work so that employers can train and retain a new generation of learners and upskilled workers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Future skills strategy launched following sector-wide collaboration. A new five-year plan has been launched today, 17 April, to help tackle Scotland’s heritage skills gaps. The skills strategy is a collaborative framework to create collective solutions that support the future of our historic environment and the communities across Scotland that rely on it. The Skills Investment Plan (SIP) identifies priority actions to build a healthy and sustainable skills system which supports paid staff, volunteers, sole traders, and organisations of all sizes spanning this diverse sector. Over its lifespan, the plan will focus on three priority themes: to grow provision and build capacity; attract future talent and improve access to the workforce; and foster innovation. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and 15 sector partners coordinated extensive research with 160 organisations and 340 individuals to support the development of the refreshed plan, including sector partners, employers, volunteers, professional bodies, skills bodies and educational institutions. Together, these groups identified the priority areas for action to continue to build on the roadmap set out in 2019 in the sector’s first dedicated skills strategy. The first five-year plan saw progress in key areas including the creation of employability programmes in traditional building skills, developing a new training programme in energy efficiency, and reaching nearly 15,000 young people through campaigns like Creative Careers Week, Build Your Future, and Defend the Castle to attract new talent. The landscape has changed since the first plan was published and the sector continues to face challenges in attracting and retaining talent post-Brexit, as well as the additional work required to bring operations back to pre-pandemic levels. The refreshed plan will be launched at the Engine Shed, Scotland’s national conservation centre, to over 100 representatives involved in skills planning and delivery, leading heritage organisations, and funders, and will feature an address from Kaukab Stewart, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. Culture Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “The launch of the refreshed Skills Investment Plan for the Historic Environment represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts to safeguard and celebrate our historic environment. But it is only the beginning and I call upon those involved to actively engage in the delivery of the Skills Investment Plan over the next five years and face the challenges head-on together, with confidence and innovation. “Through this refreshed Skills Investment Plan, and through collaboration across the country, we aim to build an accessible skills system for the historic environment sector that will provide a fairer and more sustainable future for everyone.” Alison Turnbull, Director of External Relations and Partnerships at HES, said: “The partnership and collaboration involved in developing this strategy demonstrates how we will work together as a sector and with our partners to build a skills system that works for the sector, that supports us to address challenges and seize opportunities collectively. We have learned from recent global challenges and their impact on the delivery of the SIP.  Therefore, it’s important that we work together as a sector and we remain committed to cooperation and collaboration. The themes and priority actions in the refreshed plan move us closer to our collective goal of helping to address the skills challenges constraining the operation and growth of the historic environment. “A sustainable and successful heritage sector is also vital in meeting Scotland’s net zero target. This plan helps pave the way for us to attract and retain the skills and talent we need for a fairer, greener future. The plan recognises that a skilled workforce is crucial for the sector to continue to deliver for Scotland’s economy and to manage, protect and conserve our historic environment for generations to come.” The Skills Investment Plan supports the delivery of Our Past, Our Future, Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment. Under this strategy organisations across the country are working together to sustain and enhance the benefits of Scotland’s historic environment which, pre-covid, contributed £4.2 billion to Scotland’s economy. The plan responds to one of its key principles to help nurture and grow an inclusive, diverse and skilled workforce. Cara Jones, Sector Skills Manager at The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), said: “Being part of the Skills Investment Plan (SIP) has supported Scottish archaeology to further develop a strategic approach for skill development initiatives. It has enabled fresh conversations within our sector and beyond, and supported us to explore shared challenges, barriers and potential solutions. This includes maintaining the role that our sector plays in the active delivery of Our Past, Our Future and ‘Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy’. The sub-sector collaboration, enabled by being part of the Skills Investment Plan helps save time, resource and enables us to share expertise and learning experiences. “CIfA has been pleased to contribute to the development of the refreshed SIP which will support the delivery of our own strategic objectives to ensure that our standards for accrediting competence, education, training and qualification standards are applicable and appropriate across all specialisms and roles. This work will not only help shape and promote archaeology as an attractive, rewarding and worthwhile career with parity of esteem with other professions, it will also support the development and promotion of non-traditional, diverse pathways to and through a career in Scottish archaeology.  “We are delighted to see the refreshed Skills Investment Plan launch today and look forward to supporting the future delivery of the strategy.” The refreshed plan is available to download on the HES website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

FOLLOWING the announcement that the Prime Minister has pledged £60m of funding for next year to boost apprenticeships, Lee Parkinson, chief executive at Efficiency North, the holding group for flexi-job apprenticeship service EN:Able Futures, shares his thoughts on what this means for the construction sector.   Lee said: “We welcome the announcement that apprenticeships are getting not only the financial boost they need, but the attention in the media and wider government. As a flexi-job apprenticeship provider, we are passionate about supporting the construction skills gap.   “The latest government data shows that 24,530 new apprentices were taken on in the construction sector between 2022-23, down from the 26,060 recorded the previous year (2021-22). This decrease could be attributed to the sheer amount of red tape businesses need to navigate in order to take on an apprentice, which is even harder, if not impossible for SMEs, coupled with the expense.   “From April 1, the government will fully fund apprenticeships in small businesses, compared to organisations previously being required to fund the training aspect, a move which is expected to see an increase of 20,000 apprenticeships across all industries. Having supported many construction SMEs in hosting an apprentice, cost is a huge factor, particularly in the current challenging economic climate, so we hope to see this make a big impact.   “Making a variety of routes to the industry viable and attractive to people is essential to tackling the skills gap, in addition to showcasing the range of options available to employers looking to future-proof their workforce.   “However, the news today is only impacting those up to 21 years old. While many apprentices fall into this age category, there are a lot of others we don’t want to discourage from a career in construction by introducing upper age limits of 21. At any age you can train or retain to become an asset to the industry, so we’d like to see more inclusive opportunities go a step further.  “Furthermore, the government might consider simplifying Digital Apprenticeship Service accounts to aid the uptake of apprenticeships by SME and bolder steps are needed to fund in part or in full some apprenticeships for SMEs, which would certainly catalyze their uptake.  “That being said, this is a fantastic start that includes other benefits such as those who are paying the apprenticeship levy being able to share up to 50% of their funds, an increase of 25%. Equally important is the requirement for reporting to be simplified, supporting SMEs in removing those barriers. Overall, it’s a positive move and one that will further our work as a flexi-job apprenticeship provider helping more host businesses and apprentices. We’re looking forward to seeing the impact.”  To find out more about EN:Able Futures, please visit: https://www.efficiencynorth.org/futures/find-an-apprenticeship   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

City College Plymouth has won its bid to become part of a pioneering initiative to equip people with the skills to enter the nuclear industry. The College has gained approval to join the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) network, positioning itself as one of just two providers in the South West. Alongside Bridgwater & Taunton College, it will play a crucial role in equipping individuals with the essential skills required to contribute to the growth of the evolving nuclear sector. The NCfN is a cornerstone of the Government’s response to nuclear skills provision, and the College will help meet the capacity and capability employers in the sector need. The College had to go through a rigorous process to win the right to be part of the network. It means that by September the College will deliver a nuclear skills suite of programmes that meet the needs of our local, regional and national organisations across both the defence and power generation (civil) nuclear sectors. The UK’s nuclear sector is growing rapidly, with numbers in the civil and defence workforce estimated to double over the next 20 years, bringing around 80,000 additional jobs across the UK. The Government has recognised an urgent need to ramp up recruitment activity in the sector, but also that developing people’s skills in a wide range of disciplines which feed into the nuclear sector is needed if demand is to be met. Jackie Grubb, Chief Executive of City College Plymouth, said the programmes would focus on the careers and jobs within the nuclear sector, providing students with access to world-class learning opportunities that enhance their skills relevant to the industry. She added: “City College Plymouth actively collaborates with the defence sector, equipping this essential workforce with the necessary skills for safeguarding our nation’s at-sea security. Recognising the critical role played by our nuclear submarine fleet, the College is committed to providing comprehensive training covering all aspects of this highly sophisticated machinery, including its intricate nuclear power system. “As a proud member of the National College for Nuclear network, we will gain valuable insights into the specific requirements for delivering both nuclear-related skills and comprehensive expertise to meet the demands of our defence sector. We will be able to exchange best practices through working closely with Bridgewater & Taunton College to ensure that our workforce is thoroughly prepared and capable of addressing the challenges posed by the evolving needs of our national defence.” Andy Berry, Principal & CEO of Bridgwater & Taunton College said: “It is an incredibly exciting time for the nuclear sector in the South West. City College Plymouth joining the National College for Nuclear significantly strengthens the response to the civil and nuclear defence projects. Working together, FE can respond to the growing need for high-skilled people in the nuclear sector. We have a long-established close working relationship with City College Plymouth, and we are delighted they have become a member of NCfN, which will take it to the next level as we continue to collaborate on exciting skills challenges.” Jenny Ashworth, Managing Director at the National College for Nuclear said: “We are delighted to welcome City College Plymouth to the NCfN family. At such an exciting and vital time for the nuclear and zero carbon sectors, we are thrilled to build upon the NCfN network with such a pioneering and dynamic institution such as City College Plymouth. We look forward to working closely with the team there to further build upon our ability to build a competent and agile workforce for the sector”. The Government has also launched a campaign called Destination Nuclear, working with partners to fill critical skills gaps in the nuclear industry. The ambition is for nuclear power to generate a quarter of the UK’s electricity by 2050. Plus, the Government has recently announced that one of the UK’s ballistic submarines, HMS Victorious, will be modernised in Plymouth by Babcock International under a new £560m contract. The move – announced by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps – will create around 1,000 jobs in the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals