Following ‘National Apprenticeship Week’ which took place this month, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to discuss the important roles that apprenticeships play within the construction sector.
With university being the usual avenue to choose after 6th form or college, the value of an apprenticeship goes unnoticed and as a result, there’s not enough young people learning on the job and building valuable labour-based skills - creating a skills gap within the sector. As well as this, vocational training has always traditionally been associated with school students when in fact, it is available to all ages at different levels, from active roles in construction to senior management positions.
Official research has found that 12.6% of UK construction workers are from overseas with 5.7% from the EU and 30% of British-born construction workers are over the age of 50 and nearing retirement. The latter statistic is certainly a contributing factor to the skills gap within the construction and this is why apprenticeships are so valuable. With this in mind, it’s important for everyone to have a clear pathway into this line of work with the view that it’s a career to aspire to, specifically for young adults. For those who are already experts in the field, it’s still important to continue to support their skills as they will be the teachers to our next generation of construction workers.
This further highlights the importance of the apprenticeship levy as it’s a great way to invest in new skills and training for newcomers in the sector. The levy requires businesses with an annual pay bill over £3m to pay 0.5% into a government fund and will be a way to not only stabilise businesses but also the industry in general. As more and more companies endorse the apprenticeship levy, they will surely start to reap the benefits.
Here at TIMco we’re proud to offer work experience opportunities for individuals who are interested in joining the career ladder for the construction industry. From working in the marketing department, sales or the warehouse, there are an array of options to consider. Training is always on hand, even for existing staff who we want to help progress to the next step and our merchandising department are regularly involved in training sessions to ensure they have a full understanding of our products and their applications.
We strongly believe in the importance of training and that’s why we’re sponsoring BMN Trainee of the Year award which acknowledges the achievements of a merchant business in developing its emerging talent since 2017. The judging is based on how merchant staff members have developed their skills through modules and/or vocational training whilst making a positive contribution to their employer’s business. This award is a great way of showing recognition to those who are working to develop their skills in the construction industry. Find out more here: http://ow.ly/xajf30j6rov
If you want to be a part of bridging the skills gap in the construction industry, or would like to apply for a work experience scheme, please get in touch with us to find out more information.