As of a survey by the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors, it has been urged for those leaving school to be encouraged to look into the possibility of undertaking apprenticeships as opposed to the more traditionally considered route onto the career ladder. And while higher education is still considered
Following on from National Apprentice Week a survey of over 1000 employers has been carried out to discover attitudes towards apprenticeships from employers within the industry. Over 1/3 of employers who haven’t hired an apprentice were not aware of the grants available. Over 40% of trade companies who haven’t hired
Good news for those looking to pursue apprenticeships in the construction industry. Despite already being heralded the “way forward” for construction companies looking to overcome skill shortages within the industry, new figures released by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) highlight how the opportunity truly does go both ways. The
With the present skill shortages oft reported across the construction (and related services) industry, apprenticeships are commonly seen as a way forward for organisations to bring in new blood and train them up to a standard suitable, firstly for their own operations, and secondly for the wider sector where they
Apprenticeships play an integral role in supporting the future growth of the construction industry, helping organisations to expand their workforce whilst minimising costs and overcoming challenges across the industry with regard to skill shortages. Luckily, it appears that Scottish businesses are stepping up to the challenge, playing their part and
Much like within the architecture sector, contractors within the building engineering services sector maintain a positive outlook, with turnovers reported to have increased over 6 months up to last December (reported by BESA). The growth showcases the present state of the sector and its capacity to grow amidst unreliable economic
Most recently the ECA Edmundson Electrical Awards, amongst the most highly regarded and historic awards within the industry, has seen a fresh launch and look. Aiming to catch the interest of the modern engineer and electrocution, the award has been adapted to appeal to a more technical, technology-focused audience. Having
As of a survey by the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors, it has been urged for those leaving school to be encouraged to look into the possibility of undertaking apprenticeships as opposed to the more traditionally considered route onto the career ladder. And while higher education is still considered to be the primary mode of progress for individuals, questions can be raised as the benefits in contrast to apprenticeships which can often provide more specific (to the relevant role) training and an easier time breaking into the sector for certain career paths. In the survey, the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors surveyed some 1,830 homeowners within both Wales and England, to gauge their opinion on apprenticeships. Of the results, it was highlighted that a surprisingly high 86% of individuals actually stated that they believe that those leaving school should face more encouragement on the apprenticeship front, as opposed to the more traditional path through to Higher Education – in fact, a mere 2% of those surveyed actually stated to disagree with this notion. Additionally, 81% of people nodded to the benefits of pursuing an apprenticeship, with respect to the provision of earnings and key, targeted learning for their career of choice. 78% then supported this notion, believing that apprenticeships provide a good way into a career of choice as well as 77% of those surveyed also stressing how important professional training is. Of course, the results come as no surprise, with an increasing number of university graduates struggling to break into their career of choice due to a lack of experience and a degree of insecurity as to the assurances of finding a job quickly after graduation. Combined with a shortage of skilled tradesmen, and the aforementioned lead into a career through apprenticeships, it is for these reasons that we can see apprenticeships starting to come to the fore more prominently as a direct means into a number of enviable careers.
Following on from National Apprentice Week a survey of over 1000 employers has been carried out to discover attitudes towards apprenticeships from employers within the industry. Over 1/3 of employers who haven’t hired an apprentice were not aware of the grants available. Over 40% of trade companies who haven’t hired an apprentice wouldn’t know where to start. This is despite an overwhelmingly positive response towards the scheme from those who have hired an apprentice While it is clear that those who have hired an apprentice are very supportive of the scheme, it is also clear that many employers are not sure about how they could hire an apprentice or of some of the basic benefits of hiring an apprentice. The fact that 42% of employers who haven’t yet hired an apprentice wouldn’t know where to start when it comes to hiring an apprentice and that 39% were not even aware that government grants are available, shows that there is still work to do when it comes to publicising the apprenticeship scheme. On a more positive note, it is clear that employers who have hired an apprentice have found the experience to be very valuable. 54% of employers reported that they were very satisfied with the experience and 39% said they were satisfied. The main benefit of hiring an apprentice was, perhaps unsurprisingly, providing skilled workers for the future (with 75% giving that as a response). There were also some interesting findings for those thinking of entering the sector as an apprentice, with employees saying that the most sought after quality in those looking for an apprentice was a proven work ethic. This survey was part of a wider campaign ran by Power Tool World to spread the word about apprenticeships across the sector. Chris Guy, managing director of Power Tool World, said “You can see from the results of this survey how important apprenticeships are to the construction industry and that there is still work needed to raise awareness and educate the industry. We’re taking any opportunity to do our bit to promote the scheme to young people and employers on the many benefits of apprenticeships.” As part of this, they have also created guides for apprentices (‘Kick-starting your Career in Construction’) and those thinking of hiring apprentices (“Why you should hire an apprentice” ). Both of these guides were created with the help of the National Careers Service, who provided important tips for both employers and those thinking of becoming an apprentice. By Power Tool World
Good news for those looking to pursue apprenticeships in the construction industry. Despite already being heralded the “way forward” for construction companies looking to overcome skill shortages within the industry, new figures released by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) highlight how the opportunity truly does go both ways. The figures, which form part of research undertaken by the federation for National Apprenticeship Week, showcase that almost 60% of small and medium enterprise owners actually started their career as an apprentice. Even more startling, it was also shown that over 50% of such owners actually managed to break off and start up their construction firm within a mere seven years of completing their apprenticeship; a true builder to business-owner transformation. Not only does this highlight the opportunities available to would-be apprentices should they give it their all, but also provides a welcomed spotlight on how success within the construction industry can be achieved by just about anyone, should they have the willpower and know-how. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of FMB even went as far as to say: “The construction industry is ideally suited to a young person with heaps of ambition and an entrepreneurial spirit.” Nodding to the way in which apprenticeships aren’t necessarily how often perceived, as low entry level into the industry, but actually serve as a springboard for those with the determination to succeed, effectively removing key boundaries to enter into a construction career and allowing such individuals to show their talents. And even for those not specifically looking to become their own boss, Brian Berry explains that, even for those staying in the industry the opportunities are grand, with a bricklayer of just five years’ experience traditionally earning up to £31,000 in many areas of the country, and up to £52,000 in the London area. Perhaps now, both organisation and individual may slowly begin to recognise the opportunities available through apprenticeships in comparison to those from university studies.
With the present skill shortages oft reported across the construction (and related services) industry, apprenticeships are commonly seen as a way forward for organisations to bring in new blood and train them up to a standard suitable, firstly for their own operations, and secondly for the wider sector where they may eventually venture out into. In support of this, a new apprenticeships resource pack has been announced to pre-empt celebrations of the benefits which both individuals and employers receive from on-the-job training. Assembled for the build-up to National Apprenticeship Week, the pack, available directly from the Skills Funding Agency, is poised to support organisations in communicating their activities over the course of National Apprenticeship Week – a clear nod to the importance of spreading understanding and awareness as a driver for the sector. In total, the event is expected to see hundreds of different events across England, between the 14th and 18th of March to celebrate apprenticeships and raise awareness, hopefully increasing further the level of interest on both sides of the fence; employer and apprentice. For the 20-14-2015 academic year is has been reported that some 871,000 people undertook funded apprenticeships over the period, sporting the highest values yet reported in the history of the study. This, highlights a keen (and important) interest in the pursuit of apprenticeships both from a career perspective and from the perspective of employers bringing in new blood to solve the skill shortages they are presently facing. With increased workloads also being reported across the industry, it’s certainly a good sign to see, with employers in dire need of addressing the shortage so as best to support the delivery of their service to an ever-expanding client base. Additionally, an additional area of focus is set to be traineeships, which is intended to be a stepping stone up to apprenticeships, encouraging people to get involved in this line of progression yet further. The main aim of such traineeships is, as to be expected, to give individuals the opportunity to undertake work experience and training in advance of an apprenticeship so that they can come better prepared, more confident and more capable to suit the requirements of their future employer.
Apprenticeships play an integral role in supporting the future growth of the construction industry, helping organisations to expand their workforce whilst minimising costs and overcoming challenges across the industry with regard to skill shortages. Luckily, it appears that Scottish businesses are stepping up to the challenge, playing their part and have, as such, achieved a five-year high in the number of construction apprentices recruited in 2015. With circa 1,876 apprentices recruited over the course of the year, 2015 represents a great milestone in overcoming the skill shortages by bringing in new blood to the industry. These figures highlight a 32% increase in the number of apprentices taken back in 2011, which sat at 1,422, as reported by the CITB. The figures come shortly before Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2016, which is also set to encourage organisations to take on more apprentices as a method of bringing new staff into their organisations more easily, and more cost-effectively. Funding provided by the CITB is available for all employed apprentices, which sits at £10,250, and offers a much-needed line of support for smaller businesses keen to expand, yet without the cashflow required to recruit further staff. With an estimated 21,000 new staff expected to be required over the course of the coming five years, the funding, and apprenticeships as a whole, offers a simple and effective route for employers both small and large to secure and train new staff effectively. Further information on how organisations can secure apprentices, as well as information on how would-be apprentices can secure positions within the construction industry, can be found one the Go Construct website, heralded by CITB’s Strategic Partnerships Director, Ian Hughes as: “A fantastic resource for employers and apprentices to find out about the support available, and the wealth of careers on offer.” And with the growing need for skilled workers rising with every coming day, we can only expect this vital industry resource to be much-welcomed by the wider sector.
Much like within the architecture sector, contractors within the building engineering services sector maintain a positive outlook, with turnovers reported to have increased over 6 months up to last December (reported by BESA). The growth showcases the present state of the sector and its capacity to grow amidst unreliable economic climate; however, as always, there is more to it than that. Over the period, it has been reported that the frequency of enquiries and order books had in fact slowed down as compared to the previous 6 months, with tender prices, yes, rising over the period, but at a slower rate than previously. Combined with a reported rise in material and labour costs, the figures do call into question how the industry will fare in the coming years, however the present state of the sector remains wholly positive. As has been the case for some time within the construction industry, late payments remain a major challenge for businesses, though the situation is reported to have improved marginally. Late payments, in effect, making budgeting and cashflow a severe concern for contractors, remains one of the key factors impeding the growth of businesses, combined with the widely reported labour shortages in comparison to the demand for skilled labour – such as building and quantity surveyors, planners and design engineers. Though the figures do highlight a slowing down of growth across the market, the two aforementioned challenges may indeed be amongst the most prominent factors holding the industry back from achieving further growth and, as such, businesses are increasingly urged to assist in the labour shortages through apprenticeship schemes, training and improving awareness of the opportunities actually available in the industry. After all, it is the next generation of engineers which will define the future of the industry itself. In contrast, the upcoming deadline for businesses to take up Level 2 BIM across any and all public sector works does not appear have drastically impacted the industry as feared, with only a minor reduction in BESA members undertaking such projects (31%, down from 33%). But, of course, in building for the industry of tomorrow, the power is in the hands of businesses to act now in a bid to overcome some of the modern industry challenges, with movements towards addressing the lack of skilled labour being amongst the more important. Jim Marner, President of BESA commented: “The issues of skills shortages, labour costs, and the movement of resources, modern methods of design, project risk, procurement and quality control will all become even more significant in the coming months.” As such, contractors are urged to step up and make a difference.
Most recently the ECA Edmundson Electrical Awards, amongst the most highly regarded and historic awards within the industry, has seen a fresh launch and look. Aiming to catch the interest of the modern engineer and electrocution, the award has been adapted to appeal to a more technical, technology-focused audience. Having been run since 1975, the awards exist to apprentices and trainees to reap credit for their work, thus facilitating their ascension up the career ladder within the electrotechnical sector; naturally, a range of prizes are offered also. It won’t be until June that regional winners will, in fact be announced, however anticipation is rife over the newly relaunched awards. Following on from the announcement, judging will then be undertaken over the course of summer, with a winner finally being decided in September and presented in front of leaders within the industry as well as other entrants – an exciting event to say the least. As Edmundson Electrical has a proud running history of investing back into its workforce, it is no surprise that the organisation continues to strive to support those entering the industry on an apprentice or trainee level. “People make a company and people make an industry,” explained Gordon Love, Managing Director of Edmundson Electrical, and this statement flows though the backbone of the awards, set to identify those people making a difference. In addition, the awards also showcase the excellent level of workmanship which employers might hope to employ through finding apprentices of their own, which is something traditionally heralded as a way forward in the present times of skill shortages. Keen to encourage more individuals to pursue a profession in the industry is Steve Bratt, Chief Executive of ECA who highlights the “misleading impressions” put into the minds of people about the opportunities available in the wider industry. It is hoped that, through the awards, awareness may be improved as to the real opportunities available improve interaction with aspiring professionals. He added that the awards represent a: “Fantastic way of recognising the achievements of young people in our member companies.”
