CITB are actively working with employers across Scotland to identify and find training places for new start Apprentices for 2024/25 Apprenticeship Training courses and would like to ask if your company has a new start Apprentice that we might not yet be aware of that requires a training place at one of the many colleges that we work with in Scotland.

At CITB we aim to ensure that all employed Apprentices have access to training and a recognised qualification and at times this might mean that we work with you to book training both in or out with the area that your Apprentice lives and works in. CITB can offer financial support for In Scope Leviable employers and we can discuss this with you when you make contact with us.

Can I highlight the need for more Brickwork Apprentices due to current low recruitment numbers across the Moray, Grampian and the Dundee & Angus areas. Courses aren’t sustainable if numbers are low and it would be a shame if we lost that provision in any of the colleges that we work with. Please consider recruiting an Apprentice Bricklayer if you’ve the scope of work onsite.

If you’d like to talk to one of our Apprenticeship Development Officers about Apprenticeship recruitment then please reply to Mark Davidson Mark.Davidson@citb.co.uk and Ian Campbell Ian.Campbell@citb.co.uk and we can arrange for one of our Apprenticeship team to make contact with you.

HCTG would like to invite members to a Free Behavioural Safety Workshop ‘Home Safe’ on Thursday 1st August, 9.30 am at Fairways Golf Club and Restaurant.  This workshop will be presented by board member Robbie Piper from Robertson Construction Northern.  We would encourage attendance from operative through to senior management.  Attendees will receive a copy of the presentation for their own use/rebranding.  Space will be limited for what we are sure will be a popular event so early booking is advised.  Contact Debbie on info@hctg.net to secure your places.

Highland Construction Training Group are currently preparing tender documentation for the provision of construction training courses.

Experienced Training Companies, who wish to be considered for the tender, are asked to express an interest via our email info@hctg.net before 12:00 noon on 29 March 2024.

The expression of interest should provide a one page summary of the Companies training experience which will be assessed to create a final tender list.

Tender documents will be issued early April 2023 and are required back by the Friday 26^th April 2024.

CITB Roadshow Event; Aberdeen Wednesday 6th March

By attending this roadshow, you will meet CITB staff who can support you with specific queries about your business or CITB registration, apprenticeship, or signpost to local networks such as employer networks or training groups. There will be presentations from external speakers from the local council, HSE, Developing Young Workforce and others. There will be various marketplace stands available for the duration of the event, for you to get the full benefit by asking people the questions you want answering during the coffee break and over lunch.

Wednesday 6th March 2024 Madri Lounge, Pittodrie Stadium, AB24 5QH at 10am

CITB Scotland North East Roadshow Employer Event Tickets, Wed, Mar 6, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

Open Doors 2024 is now just over a month away and will see hundreds of events taking place across Great Britain from Monday 18 – Saturday 23 March.

Open Doors is a unique chance for students and career changers to see construction in action and learn more about the 180 careers available across the industry. You can now book your visits across all types of construction sites, as well as training and manufacturing facilities, depots, offices, virtual reality and online events.

Construction needs to recruit almost 50,000 new entrants per year just to maintain current output, with staff shortages affecting multiple areas of the industry, and promoting Open Doors is your opportunity to contribute to the recruitment of the next generation. Logos and promotional graphics are available to download, alongside the key messages for sharing with your networks.

We currently have over 200 sites across Great Britain and over 2,000 bookings, but are keen to maximise these numbers before the week itself. Open Doors is run in partnership with CITB and therefore we would really appreciate the help of the Training Group network to promote visit opportunities.

Scottish Apprenticeship week is fast approaching.

Apprenticeships.scot has lots of useful resources available and more information on events in the area and how you can get involved.

visit their website at www.apprenticeships.scot/events/scottish-apprenticeship-week

End of year update on the planned changes to the plant standards and grants which will standardise training and testing requirements across the construction industry.

It is now estimated that the changes will come into effect in Spring 2023. We need to allow enough time for the necessary training delivery and quality assurance to be put in place ahead of roll out in this safety critical area.

Excellent progress has been made and we can confirm that the first set of new plant training standards are ready and have been developed in collaboration with industry working groups made up of employers, providers and federations. As these new standards are more detailed than any CITB have produced previously and represent a real change in the way that plant training and testing is delivered, we need to ensure that the changes that industry have asked for are fulfilled properly.

A further update about the progress and planned launch date of the new standards will be shared in the new year.

Further information on the planned changes can be found on the CITB website: Plant Standards and Grant

Aled Hughes
Plant Project Manager

Today we are publishing our comprehensive study on new approaches to recruitment in the construction industry. The report highlights the opportunities for industry to increase the number and diversity of the people it recruits. Additionally, the research provides a view on the attraction of a career in construction and explores the perceptions and image of the industry from those working inside and outside the sector. Click below to read the report.

rethinking-recruitment-constructing-a-more-attractive-industry-january-2022

 

I hope everyone is enjoying their week so far. Today’s email details the publication of our business plan, the reinstatement of our plant grant, the Construction Leadership Council’s People Survey, and a reminder to have your say in our Levy consultation.

Business Plan

This week we have published our Business Plan, and with it practical solutions to support people into our sector while retaining talent, ensuring access to the  training that is needed across the industry, where it’s needed.

We’ve listened to your views and will use your Levy money to focus on fewer initiatives, making sure they deliver the greatest value and impact. By focussing on these areas, we’ll enable a wide range of people to choose construction, and to develop their skills throughout their career, making sure employers can access they skills they need. We’ll be investing the equivalent of 94p from every pound of Levy we collect next year through direct funding, or other services that benefit construction businesses – turning your Levy in, into the right skills.

Next week we’ll release our Nations Plans, which go into more detail about the priority activities in England, Scotland and Wales.

You can read our full business plan by clicking here.

Grants Scheme and Additional Plant-Related Vocational Qualification Unit Grant reinstatement

Our Grants Scheme for this year begins Thursday 1 April and all Grants Scheme rates remain the same as last year.

Following discussions with you, we have reinstated the Additional Plant-Related Vocational Qualification Unit Grant, withdrawn in September 2020 as part of our response to the impact of Covid-19. When the scheme opens, you can apply for £600 for each full qualification, (up to a maximum of four per level, per individual), with a further three plant related qualifications at £300 each available at Level 2.

Applications for last year (from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021) must be submitted by Wednesday 30 June. We will also be working to identify applications that were received while the grant had been removed to ensure no one is disadvantaged. You can find out more about available grants and how to apply here on our Grants and Funding page.

Construction Leadership Council’s People Survey

The Construction Leadership Council has launched its latest industry-wide People Survey which will measure the impact of coronavirus on the construction sector and its workforce one year on. Previous surveys helped to secure a range of support for the sector, including funding for the Construction Talent Retention Scheme.  Your views make a difference, and will help CITB and others direct support effectively, so please spare just ten minutes to complete the online survey. The deadline for responses is Friday 16 April and all information provided will be confidential with no company details required.

Don’t forget to have your say on our Levy proposals

A reminder that our consultation on the Levy Proposals 2022-25 is open until Sunday 11 April. CITB registered employers can have their say on the way we raise the Levy for the next three years, and give feedback on our plans for supporting construction recovery at www.citb.co.uk/levyconsultation

Best wishes and stay safe everyone,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive