by Clair Mooney | Oct 13, 2022 | Skills
Despite concerns about a recession, the industry’s skills shortages have shot up the agenda once again, with ‘People and skills’ identified as one of the four most important strategic priorities in the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) new vision and leadership summary published in September.
The CLC has stated that it will focus on people issues within the industry, with a big push on attracting talent and enhancing skills for the future. It is also very keen to ensure that, if construction business insolvencies do start to increase, workers at risk of redundancy are quickly redeployed and not lost to the sector.
The issue of recruiting enough people into the sector isn’t a new one, but it is becoming increasingly urgent. In 2017, it was predicted around 500,000 workers are expected to retire from the industry over the next 10 years which doesn’t leave long to fill this gap.
As well as replacing the exiting skills and experience, the industry also needs to recruit 53,200 additional workers every year to keep pace with the levels of demand, according to the CITB’s Construction Skills Network report, including people with new skills in digitalisation, sustainability and offsite manufacturing.
How can employers attract new people into construction?
While it might sound like a mammoth task, there are lots of ways for employers to attract new people to join the industry.
Apprenticeships, traineeships, graduate jobs, placements and internships, T Level courses, work experience and taster opportunities, and any well supported entry-level jobs, all provide great ways for young people to gain the skills and experience they need to forge a career in construction.
If your organisation is currently offering any opportunities like this, make sure they are added to Talentview Construction (TVC), a free online platform that helps individuals to get started in the construction industry.
This month marks the first anniversary since TVC was launched, supported by CITB industry levy funding and backed by Government.
Over the last 12 months, more than 11,600 early careers vacancies have been added to the site, attracting more than 48,000 views from potential applicants.
How can Talentview Construction help FIS members with recruitment?
By using TVC to support with early-careers recruitment activities, you can:
- Promote information about your business
- Upload unlimited vacancies and training opportunities
- Search for local candidates
- Create saved searches and alerts for people who match your criteria
- Have direct contact with individuals
- Manage the recruitment of numerous positions
- Integrate with existing recruitment systems
The platform can also help you build links with local schools. There are 148 universities, university technical colleges (UTCs), FE colleges and schools across the UK registered on the platform – including the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, Chesterfield College, South and City College Birmingham, and the United College Group London – all of which will be incorporating student registration onto TVC as part of their 2022/2023 intake.
To help you promote vacancies on Talentview Construction, there is a handy Comms Toolkit which has free videos and social media graphics, as well as text that can be used across websites, newsletters and other comms: https://bit.ly/CTRS-TVC-employers-toolkit
For more information on how TVC can support your organisation with recruitment, visit: www.talentview.org/construction
by Clair Mooney | Oct 12, 2022 | Skills
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers are delighted to announce the annual Training Awards will be presented by the Lord Mayor of London.
The 694th Lord Mayor of the City of London, Nicholas Lyons will be attending the Training Awards on 22 November, where he will be continuing the tradition of the Lord Mayor presenting the worthy winners with their awards.
Held at the Plaisterers’ Hall in London from 12:00 – 15:30, the Training Awards recognise excellence and achievement in plastering and interior trades and will celebrate:
- The achievement of apprentices
- Students who have exceeded beyond expectations
- The delivery of training by colleges and training providers
- Training delivery by an FIS member company
- Mentors and others who have supported sector training
- Lifetime contribution to sector training
Commenting on the awards, FIS President Helen Tapper and Member of The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers Industry Committee, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor to the annual training awards. The event showcases the very best of the sector’s occupations and the achievements of students and apprentices, supportive employers and mentors, colleges and training providers.”
Garth Manger OBE, Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers said:
“The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers is delighted to be partnering with FIS and hosting the Training Awards in our Hall. Having the Lord Mayor present the prizes will make it a very special day for the worthy winners and we look forward to welcoming him and the winners on 22 November”.
The awards, which traditionally covered plastering and drylining, have expanded to cover the wider finishes and interiors sector and include the following occupational areas: Dryliners, Ceiling Fixers, Partition Installers, Plasterers, Carpenters and Joiners, Access Flooring Installers and Steel Framed System Erectors.
Trade-specific sponsored awards include the British Gypsum Trophy – which recognises the highest achievement in drylining skills education – and the Formula Trophy, for contributions to the development of skills and long-term future of Fibrous and GRG plasterwork.
For more information on the awards, visit www.thefis.org/training-awards-2022 or https://plaistererslivery.co.uk/industry-support/plasterers-training-awards/ or call 0121 707 0077.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 6, 2022 | Skills
The City of London Corporation is leading ‘Skills for a Sustainable Skyline,’ a three-year Taskforce. It aims to identify and fill emerging ‘green skills’ gaps within Central London’s commercial built environment. This work is being lead by a Board of Industry Experts including FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee and a number of volunteer groups, some of which are supported by FIS Members.
As part of this work they are reaching out to businesses and individuals involved in delivering sustainable commercial buildings to gain deeper insight in the skills needed to deliver these projects and the barriers to recruiting, retaining and training them,
Please complete this short questionnaire (8 mins) to help inform the Taskforce on emerging issues facing the sector. Answers to this survey will inform the Taskforce’s evidence base and the interventions in 2023-25. The detail contained in responses will be kept anonymous
You can complete the survey here.
by Clair Mooney | Sep 29, 2022 | Skills
The SDS Scottish Apprenticeship Awards highlight the key role apprentices, supporting individuals and employers play in delivering the skills Scotland needs, both now and in the future, across the whole economy.
Award categories include:
- Apprentice Ambassador of the Year
- Modern Apprentice of the Year – SCQF Level 6+
- Modern Apprentice of the Year – SCQF Level 5
- Graduate Apprentice of the Year
- Foundation Apprentice of the Year
- SME Employer of the Year
- Large Employer of the Year
- Apprentice Instructor of the Year
- Supporting Net Zero Employer of the Year
- Supporting Net Zero Apprentice of the Year
Nominations close at 12pm on Wednesday 5 October 2022. The winners will be revealed during Scottish Apprenticeship Week which runs from 6 to 10 March 2023.
Nominations can be made online here: Scottish Apprenticeship Awards nominations
Nomination entry rules can be read here: Award nomination rules
Further information on can be found here: Scottish Apprenticeship Awards
by Clair Mooney | Sep 29, 2022 | Skills
Temporary changes to right to work checks, which allow employers to undertake checks via video calls and use scanned copies rather than original documents, will end tomorrow (30 September). After this date, employers should verify an individual’s right to work using a certified digital identity service provider (IDSP).
by Clair Mooney | Sep 28, 2022 | Skills
The finishes and interiors sector is experiencing shortages of trained and qualified ‘skilled’ labour at every level and there is no immediate easy fix. Employers need to invest in home grown talent and that starts with recruitment. To support this, document provides a summary of the services on offer from the Department of Work and Pensions via Job Centre Plus, you may be surprised at the assistance available to employers all free of charge.
Job vacancies can also be advertised on the FIS Job Spot, just complete the electronic form: https://www.thefis.org/jobspot/
