Construction Industry urged to stop Turning Away Tomorrows Skilled Craftspeople

ConstructionSkills is now calling on the industry to make sure that 2007 is the best year yet for employers offering apprenticeship placements. So far this year over 25,000 young people in England have applied to ConstructionSkills hoping to gain a start in the industry. Already nearly 6,000 candidates have passed the organisation’s selection test for all apprenticeship applicants which ensures they meet appropriate standards –and now it’s down to industry to see that these willing and able candidates get the start they crave.

The drive to recruit more employers follows the Government’s announcement earlier this year that by 2013 they want more young people continuing in post-16 training and education. In addition, next month, the Government is expected to back Lord Leitch’s recommendations for improving UK skills, including a target of 500,000 people on apprenticeships across all sectors by 2020.There are currently only 250,000 apprentices working in all sectors.

ConstructionSkills is calling on employers of all sizes to recognise construction apprentices as a vital resource, and to commit to helping young people enter the industry. In order to support this ConstructionSkills has introduced Programme Led Apprenticeships (PLAs), a new complementary route to Traditional Apprenticeships.

PLAs will allow young people to complete a full-time construction based college based course before completing the practical aspects required to attain NVQ Level 2 through a continuous placement of up to 12 months with an employer, a much shorter time commitment for businesses than Traditional Apprentices.