Concerns raised over “dead-end” construction courses

Fears have been raised about thousands of young people being placed on ‘dead end’ classroom-based construction courses.

A freedom of information request by construction workers union, Unite, has obtained figures from the Government’s Skills Funding Agency, revealing that the amount of classroom based construction courses increased by 14% in 2016 – far more than the number of apprentices beginning their training.

In 2015/16, 192,500 people started a classroom-based construction course, compared to only 167,000 in 2014/15. However during the same period, just 21,460 people began a construction apprenticeship.

This type of course has come in for heavy criticism due to trainees only usually able to achieve a technical qualification, as they don’t have access to on-site training.

The news comes during national apprenticeship week and at time when the construction skills shortage shows no sign of abating.

The only qualification recognised in construction is the NVQ, which can’t be obtained without substantial site experience.

An NVQ or equivalent qualification is necessary to acquire a Construction Sector Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, which is usually required to work on construction sites.

Those people undertaking classroom-only courses usually have no way to achieve an NVQ.

Acting General Secretary, Gail Cartmail, said: “These figures are truly shocking. For whatever reason we find ourselves in the terrible situation of increasingly offering young people a classroom construction course but also in effect denying them the chance to acquire the qualifications needed to enter the industry in a skilled role.

“Classroom based construction teaching has a vital role to play in the training of construction apprentices. What is urgently needed is a refocussing of resources to ensure that money is more effectively invested in boosting the number of genuine apprenticeships, so that a far higher number of young people can acquire the skills and qualifications to enter the industry.”

“We need to build an effective alliance including: Unite, employers, FE colleges, apprentice providers and the government to boost apprenticeships and ensure young people are able to access meaningful courses.”

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here

The post Concerns raised over “dead-end” construction courses appeared first on UK Construction Online.