Skills (From The Northern Echo)

Skills

5:33pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Letters

WITH a decline in employment forecast for the construction industry this year, as outlined in the findings of our recent Construction Skills Network report, there is a real danger that we will not have the skills needed to complete major projects in the longer term.

It is therefore vital that we use events such as National Apprenticeship Week, which took place last week, to help bring new and diverse talent into the sector. Initiatives with schools across the region that were held during the week are a great way to showcase the varied careers that the construction industry has to offer.

CITB-Construction Skills is working hard to attract new talent into construction and to inform young people about the career opportunities and variety the sector offers.

National Apprenticeship Week provided us with a great opportunity to reach more young people as well as to promote the grants available to employers taking on apprentices and the support offered for businesses in terms of training, health and safety and procurement, as well as hosting events aimed at school pupils and apprentices.

There is still investment in significant projects across the region which will help stimulate growth, so National Apprenticeship Week adds value to the work being done to secure the recovery of the sector.

Russell Buckley, CITB-Construction Skills North-East.