Salford Construction Partnership

Salford Construction Partnership

Salford City Council established a dedicated ‘Employability Team’ in 2002, with responsibilities that included:

  • Improving skills and education, raising aspirations and achievements
  • Reducing barriers to employment and training
  • Enhancing the employability of local residents, particularly those experiencing barriers to employment.

The Employability Team led on the formation of the Salford Construction Partnership (SCP) which includes local construction client and contracting organisations and training providers.  The partnership identifies training and employment needs and opportunities in the face of significant inward investment in construction.  In particular SCP uses EU Structural Funds (both ERDF and ESF) to develop innovative training approaches for unemployed people otherwise unable to access college-based training.  

Outline details of initiative

Sectors Covered

Cross-sectoral within construction, including:

  • Social housing, both refurbishment and new-build
  • Education, including BSF
  • Health, both conventional procurement and PFI
  • Private sector commercial

Scope, aims

SCP delivers against strategic policy objectives of:

  • Tackling skills shortages
  • Increasing the employability of those currently unemployed locally
  • Creating employment opportunities
  • Boosting the local construction sector.

Specifically, SCP helps local unemployed to enter the industry by offering:

  • Relevant information and advice to people of all ages and backgrounds
  • A single point of contact for employers wishing to recruit

Bespoke courses in conjunction with local training providers

Partnership structure

 SCP has a dedicated staff team comprising Project Manager; Employer Liaison Officer and Client Officer.  A Strategic Forum of developers and contractors provides strategic insights.  An Implementation Group engages with contractors on skills requirements and labour supply.

 Programme Dates: Ongoing from 2004

Workforce Development Programme

Target communities:Local unemployed, particularly Job Centre Plus clients in the DWP ‘Welfare to Work’ target group’ living in deprived wards of Salford

Target skills/abilities to be developed

All the essential trade skills and competencies required on site, including for site administration, also the knowledge and skills required by contractors for roles in project management, surveying, cost management, etc

Target levels of qualification to be achieved

Introduction to Construction Skills for those entering the industry leading to CSCS and NVQ level 2, followed by Apprenticeship Training or other on-site training with contractors to higher level NVQs.

Partners/stakeholders

Wide range including Salford City Council; Urban Vision; CITB NW; GM LSC; GM Job Centre Plus; Central Salford URC; Work Solutions (Stanguide), Connexions Service; University of Salford (Faculty of the Built Environment), Salford College.

Implementation – approach, methodology

Overall strategy

A coordinated partnership approach to:

  • Working to overcome barriers to employment
  • Engaging with employers to recruit and train
  • Providing appropriate training leading to job opportunities for the ‘work ready’ and filling skills gaps of employersEncouraging investment in upskilling for those in entry level employment.

Actions at project tender stage

 Requirement for contractors to demonstrate how they will

(a) Use local companies in their supply chain

(b) Recruit from the SCP database of job seekers to fill new vacancies.

Coverage in contract terms

For all projects in the range £1m to £35m under the SCC frameworks:

  • Use of the SCP for recruitment is included in the contract specifications
  • ‘Community benefit’ clauses are included in the main contracts
  • Contractors sign up to the SCP Employment Charter

Measurement

Numbers placed into jobs and the use made of local supply chains is measured and reported in quarterly monitoring returns and project closure reports

Monitoring, enforcement

While no actual targets are set, contractors are encouraged to use local labour sourced from SCP.  Local Labour Clauses in SCC Capital Works contracts are “incentivised”, i.e. 10% of the Contract sum is withheld until Project Closure to ensure that contractors deliver against the Social and Economic KPI’s