24 April 2019
Trade associations meet to discuss training delivery issues
Build UK’s trade association members met on Wednesday 24 April 2019 at the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) to discuss the challenges of delivering specialist training and to propose solutions for contractors.
Discussions explored the specific challenges for the delivery of apprenticeships, specialist training and training groups with a number of key issues identified:
- There was no ‘one size fits all’ method for delivering specialist training and solving the issues faced often required specific sector-based solutions
- Being a trainer or assessor was often not an attractive prospect to existing industry employees. It was proposed that industry work to develop the skill sets of professional trainers to provide them with the proficiency to deliver industry training, rather than reducing the number of existing skilled operatives from the industry.
- Industry is keen to collaborate and share examples of best practice to ensure operatives are able to access the most appropriate training opportunities for them.
Presentations were delivered by Graham McPhail, Head of Education and Training at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), as well as Richard Miller, the Head of Qualifications and Standards at the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).
Graham presented on the existing structure of the National Construction College (NCC). The decision was taken by the CITB Board to divest the NCC’s constituent parts to allow CITB to divest from the direct delivery of training and be more strategic in facilitating training provision. As of April 2019, Heads of Terms had been agreed for four of the seven areas of the NCC business: NCC training centres in the Midlands and Erith along with the National Specialist Accredited Centre and Assessment and Verification team. Transferal of ownership was expected to be completed by October 2019, with the remaining three areas (NCC – Bircham Netwon and Inchinnan and the Health and Safety team) expected to be completed by January 2020. Graham’s presentation is available here.
Richard provided a case study on how the RoofCERT scheme was working to provide assurance that operatives in roofing held the required knowledge, skills and experience to work effectively. The scheme looked to develop the quality of training, improve the perception of the roofing industry and have 5,000 roofers accredited by June 2021. Richard’s presentation is available here.