Industry experts at the ECITB National Forum explored plans to support growth and tackle labour shortages through workforce training and addressing skills gaps
The industry-led sector skills body outlined how it plans to support growth in the Engineering Construction Industry (ECI) through workforce training and tackling labour shortages and skills gaps at the ECITB National Forum event.
More than 120 employers, training providers, government officials and other partners attended the event, which Lynda Armstrong, chair of the ECITB opened.
Lynda reflected over the last seven years while Chris Claydon MBE has been at the helm of the skills body. She then went on to welcome Andy Brown as the ECITB’s interim CEO.
Business priorities were outlined at the ECITB National Forum
Deputy director of strategy and policy, Jenny Young, and interim director of operations, Matt Oates shared the three pillars upon which the ECITB’s business priorities are framed. These are:
Foundations
- Fund high-quality training, enabled by the levy, for a safe and competent workforce
- Produce impactful labour market intelligence to enable data-driven decision making
- Champion diversity and inclusion
- Work in partnership with industry and government to influence change
- Continuously improve
Growing a skilled workforce
- Attract and develop the next generation
- Expand entry pathways into industry
- Deliver industry-leading standards, qualifications and competence assurance
- Help employers retain and upskill a flexible and transferable workforce
- Broaden access to training
Supporting industry in transition
- Prepare the workforce for net zero
- Identify emerging industry trends and longer-term skills needs
- Bridge the digital skills gaps to drive innovation and productivity
- Evolve the remit of the ECITB to respond to the changing industrial landscape
- Export ECITB products and services to establish a global standard for safety and skills excellence
Addressing the skills shortage through scholarships
A dedicated focus was then given to how the ECITB plans to attract and develop the next generation of skilled people into the industry. The Q&A session provided a forum for attendees to delve deeper into areas of interest including the engagement of SMEs and pipelines for specific specialisms.
Adrian Wookey, head of new entrants, outlined the ECITB scholarship programme and how this has grown and evolved to meet the current and emerging needs of industry.
He said: “We are looking to expand the scholarships further and are pleased employers are engaging in these. Any developments will be aligned to industry needs with a clear focus on preparing the workforce for the future.
“Wherever we are running scholarships we will be setting up employer panels to drive the skills needed for industry. They will help employers to mould and influence skills for industry as well as having the opportunity to identify talent.”
ECITB National Forum considered how to support the industry in an uncertain future
In his closing remarks at the ECITB National Forum, interim CEO Andy Brown said: “This year, like any year, will have its challenges for industry. Notwithstanding the promise of significant investment, there is, as ever, uncertainty about the future.
“Labour shortages seem to be real, despite the state of the economy. We have to continue to invest on industry’s behalf, leveraging support where we can and trying to get in early to make the skills interventions timely and relevant.”
The business plan, shared at the ECITB National Forum, sets out the ECITB’s priorities for the next three years.
It supports the delivery of the ECITB’s 2023-25 strategy, Leading Industry Learning, which was launched in September 2022 after a comprehensive strategy development round with industry.
