51 new Apprenticeship Standards agreed, says CITB

The Construction Apprenticeships Working Group has met a key milestone with the approval of 51 new Apprenticeship Standards.

According to the working group, the Apprenticeship Standards will enable employers of all shapes and sizes to access the world-class training their businesses require. The group is comprised of representatives from across the industry, from Tier 1 contractors to construction SMEs.

Since April these representatives have worked in support of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Skills Group’s ambition to push forward the design of construction apprenticeship standards and meet the industry’s skills needs.

Chaired by Steve Hearty, Director of Apprenticeships at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the group has worked with the Institute of Apprenticeships (IfA) and employer groups to ensure these new standards are approved for delivery ahead of the end-of-year deadline.

Critically, the new standards have been designed to:

1. Ensure apprenticeship provision in the occupations and locations where there is the greatest need for skilled workers first, based on CITB’s labour market information.
2. Address key issues that have reduced apprenticeship completion rates and the number of people successfully entering industry from an apprenticeship.
3. Grow the proportion of women and Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers undertaking and completing apprenticeships.

Mark Reynolds, Skills Lead for the CLC and Chief Executive of Mace, said: “This is a big step forward for construction apprenticeships and the industry. The creation of the working group has provided crucial insight into the future needs of the construction sector. Their work, together with the IfA, has helped to identify potential skills gaps and ensure industry employers are able to develop the standards they need. The group and the IfA have also made good progress on shortening the approval process and in addressing any concerns around consistency in occupational competency assessment.

“The new standards will help to empower employers to deliver the skills they need to meet the demands of a modern business. They will do this by strengthening construction apprenticeships, which will play a vital role in building the workforce of the future.”

Paul Allman, Director of Hawk Group and Construction Apprenticeships Working Group member, added: “The new standards have been created by employers for employers in our industry. The group all have key roles in construction and know what training is needed for a successful apprenticeship. This work is testament to the commitment of our industry to ensure we create apprenticeships that are delivering for employers.”

The group now aims to develop a further 20 standards by December. The new standards include trades across civils, access, and carpentry and joinery alongside many other skilled occupations.

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