ConstructionSkills announces London Strategy to respond to capital’s employment and skills challenges

London affordable homes and Crossrail plans heighten the need for action

Yesterday saw the launch of ConstructionSkills’ London Strategy, which will help ensure the skills and employment needs in the capital are met so the industry can deliver the high volume of major projects that will be central to maintaining London’s competitiveness.

With Boris Johnson’s £5 billion plan to build 50,000 affordable homes in the capital and speculation that key projects such as Crossrail will be brought forward in next week’s Pre Budget Report to give a boost to the construction industry, the London Strategy’s targets become even more important.

Specifically, the strategy will:

• Encourage more construction businesses in London to invest in skills and training to improve their competitiveness and productivity;
• Improve the skills of existing construction workers in London so they are safe and competent and can have rewarding careers in the industry;
• Increase the number of qualified new entrants in London through targeted recruitment and careers activities and projects that provide more opportunities for all Londoners to join industry at every level.

London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson, said: "The construction industry is central to the capital’s economic and social prosperity. In the coming years, London’s construction workforce will be required to deliver major improvements to the city’s infrastructure and public services such as hospitals, roads and affordable housing for key workers.

"ConstructionSkills’ Greater London strategy provides an excellent framework for ensuring we have a safe, professional and fully qualified workforce. For the longer term, it enables the industry to create a lasting legacy – both in terms of the physical built environment and through training and employment opportunities. I expect the Strategy to contribute to the London Skills and Employment Board's skills vision, London’s Future, and look forward to working with the sector to improve our city and to offer new opportunities to our residents."

Between now and 2012 ConstructionSkills aims to deliver:

• 200 inspire scholarships will be offered to London graduates;
• 1,400 STEP job placements supplied to diverse recruits; 
• 800 work placements will be set-up for women through Women into Work;
• 2,000 traditional and 1,765 Programme-Led apprentices will be placed;
• 310,000 Health & Safety Test passes in the capital;
• 27,500 existing workers will be qualified through On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) and Experienced Worker Practical Assessments (EWPA) programmes.

The London Strategy features a new training centre in the heart of East London which will open its doors later this year to boost the supply of specialist construction skills in the capital and provide training to local people.

The centre in Newham will be a National Skills Academy for Construction regional hub, and will be run by the National Construction College, the training arm of ConstructionSkills, offering courses in much-needed trades including plant maintenance, construction operations, dry-lining, roofing and highways maintenance.

The centre will deliver training in partnership with the London Development Agency and the Olympic Delivery Authority, and is part funded by the LSC and Newham Borough Council. It will cater for over 100 apprentices and provide in excess of 2,000 training places for ‘Skills for Jobs’, adult upskilling and courses including civils, plant maintenance operatives, specialist roofing and interiors, along with a range of basic skills and ESOL programmes.

It will also offer a range of commercial adult programmes for existing employees within the construction industry, including new training categories to increase site competence, Health and Safety, and Supervisory and Leadership and Management programmes.

The centre builds on existing specialist training provision in East London at the Eton Manor Plant Training Centre. Over 350 trainees have now completed their training since the site was launched in February, with a pass rate of over 70%. The other significant advantage of providing skills that respond to contractor needs is the high employment rates that result. Over 40% of the trainees have come from ethnic backgrounds and 15 female candidates have successfully completed training courses. Nearly 40% of candidates have been offered employment so far, with the employment retention rate of those who were offered jobs at a very positive 77%. 

Mark Farrar, Chief Executive, ConstructionSkills stated: “Whilst the effects of a slowdown in the economy are being felt across the UK, over the next few years, Greater London will still see a significant volume of construction activity, largely driven by the massive infrastructure investment planned and the demand for affordable new homes. This is why we need a specific strategy for London. We want to see a lasting skills legacy, we want to provide further employment opportunities and we want to deliver the skills employers need.”

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A full copy of the Skills for London (ConstructionSkills Employment and Skills Strategy 2008 – 2012) is available online: www.cskills.org

For further information, please contact David Pidgeon on 0207 367 9803 or email david.pidgeon@cskills.org

Notes to editor

About The National Construction College

The National Construction College is the training division of ConstructionSkills and covers courses in sustainability, management, plant operations and mechanics, groundworks, crane operations, lightning conductor engineering, scaffolding and steeplejacking, general construction, civil engineering, roofing, ceiling fixing, partitioning, surveying and setting out and floor covering.

About the National Skills Academy for Construction

The National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) is one of a network of National Skills Academies funded by the Learning and Skills Council and is a tailor-made response by the industry to meet these challenges.

The NSAfC is a partnership between ConstructionSkills, employers large and small, clients, colleges and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to deliver project-specific on-site training. Work based learning centres at significant construction projects will enable employers to train local people into jobs and at the same time raise the skills of their staff and other members of the workforce.

About ConstructionSkills

ConstructionSkills is the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry. It is UK-wide and represents the whole industry from professional consultancies to major contractors and SMEs. Established as a Sector Skills Council in 2003, ConstructionSkills is working to deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified construction workforce.

ConstructionSkills is a partnership between CITB-ConstructionSkills, CIC and CITB Northern Ireland.