Contractor Laing O’Rourke has published a 10-point plan, which includes the introduction of construction qualifications in schools
Construction qualifications should be targeted at GCSEs and A-levels. This was the recommendation of contractor Laing O’Rourke in a new plan discussing the skills crisis in the sector.
In a 10-point plan the firm recommended the government should launch new qualifications for GCSE and A-level to help tackle the mounting skills shortage.
Furthermore, it also called on ministers to ensure employers commit to “measurable improvements in diversity”, as well as better apprenticeships and regionally-focused skills pipelines.
Concerning skills shortage
The skills crisis is undoubtedly at the forefront of concerns for the construction sector. The Brexit vote placed a significant question mark in front of the future for the industry and how immigration changes could impact capacity within construction.
Laing O’Rourke’s group human capital director John O’Connor said: “Our plan highlights that there is a worrying skills shortage in the UK construction and engineering sectors and presents a clear series of practical recommendations to help close the skills gap in the design, manufacturing, engineering and construction spaces.”
Farmer Review
Last month, a report from Mark Farmer warned the sector was facing turbulence as the skills shortage gathers pace. The Farmer Review revealed some 20 to 25 per cent of the construction workforce are expected to be lost over the next decade. It also highlighted that government apprenticeship policies would not achieve enough to ensure a skilled workforce is in place. The “modernise or die” element of the review undoubtedly hit the point home hard.
Now, Farmer says more needs to be done to make the construction sector a feasible career path for young people.
“My recently published Farmer Review recommendations are centred on being able to improve productivity and predictability whilst making the industry more attractive to new entrants through a digital engineering led education, skills development and end to end delivery approach,” Farmer said.
“Laing O’Rourke has taken bold and visionary steps in their business to embrace this agenda ahead of many of their competitors and I believe this 10 point plan is an important addition to the debate on how we appropriately modernise and safeguard our industry’s future.”
Ten recommendations
1. Flex the Government’s planned Apprenticeship Levy and reduce delays to approval of ‘Trailblazer Apprenticeship’ standards
2. Create regionally focused skills pipelines
3. Increase availability of Russell Group standard part-time degree apprenticeships
4. Review options for career transitioning apprenticeships
5. Introduce GCSEs and A-levels in Design, Engineer and Construct (DEC) disciplines
6. Foster collaboration between industry and government to deliver a broader range of improved careers advice for construction and engineering
7. Commit the industry to measurable improvements in diversity
8. Seize the opportunity of the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
9. Support the creation of a single construction and infrastructure skills body
10. Facilitate the ongoing professional development of a directly employed workforce
