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Latest News

Bearing the Emotional Weight - Sarah Bolton, Lighthouse Charity

World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10th October) always brings a focus on what more could or should be done to support our industry’s workforce. Greater awareness of some of the issues can only be a positive thing, but for the Lighthouse Charity, our work to improve the wellbeing of our construction community is continuous; every hour, every day, every month.

Climbing Matterhorn for Construction Mental Health Awareness

It is estimated that there are currently more than 700,000 suicides per year worldwide, making it a critical issue that affects individuals and communities worldwide. Among men in the USUK and Australia, construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any sector, making it an industry with some of the worst mental health rates. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual report on occupational injuries, there’s been a 7.7% increase in construction fatalities and a 13.1% increase in suicides in 2022 over 2021.

Throughout September, we honor World Suicide Prevention Day and National Suicide Prevention Month in the US, a time to shift public perception, elevate resources, and spread hope. While these statistics are shocking, advocates and organizations are engaging in open and honest discussions about prioritizing mental health and changing the narrative on suicide

CCATF Member Spotlight - Lee Marley

Introduction

The Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) proudly boasts 250 member organisations who collectively support a large share of the construction industry’s apprenticeship placements. Most of these companies are also intrinsically embedded within the wider workforce development throughout the sector. Across our membership base, we are currently building towards underpinning support for 50,000 live apprenticeship placements.

In a new approach, and to recognise the outstanding work being undertaken by a significant number of our members, we are introducing a new series of “Member Case Studies”.

These Case Studies will look, in some detail, at individual organisations, what they are doing in respect of apprenticeships, skills development and training and shine a spotlight on their approach to upskilling the industry.

New International Construction Report highlights implications of skills gaps for UK’s economic growth

International skills charity NOCN Group has released a new report that analyses the current global construction skills landscape and the implications of skills gaps for the UK’s economic growth. It raises questions for the new Government’s approach to setting up Skills England, as well as investment in 1.5 million new homes and Net-Zero infrastructure projects.

DfE pauses post-16 qualifications reform and BTEC defunding

Bridget Phillipson confirms government will review the controversial plans by the end of the year – but only 2024 cuts have been paused so far

The new government has partially paused reforms to post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below, halting this year’s planned defunding of some BTECs and other alternatives to T Levels.

Northern Apprenticeship Service takes on 500th Recruit

AWARD-WINNING flexi job apprenticeship agency EN:Able Futures is celebrating, having supported 500 apprentices in 10 years - helping to boost career prospects in the north.

Mia Borne has become the 500th apprentice for EN:Able Futures, joining as a Level 2 roofer with Innercity Roofing in November. She has been working to support a large project at Ecclesfield Library in Sheffield, gaining experience in felting and reroofing, as well as laying, splitting and cutting tiles.

As she develops her skillset through on-the-job training, Mia will be given more responsibility, helping to strengthen her knowledge and experience over the two-year course.

Boosting Routes into Industry

Boosting Routes into the Industry aims to contribute to the discussions in the construction and built environment industry on how we will be able to maintain and develop a sufficient number of competent and productive people in the workforce, in trades, operational, professional, technical and managerial roles, who can deliver what the UK will need to move to a sustainable and Net Zero economy and society, which complies with the requirements of the Building Safety Act.

EXPLORING HOW THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT SECTOR CAN BROADEN PARTICIPATION AND GREATER INCLUSION THROUGH SCHOOL OUTREACH

The need for sustainable and effect outreach capabilities within the schools and wider education sector has never been greater.

People across the country set to benefit from more skills training

People across the country set to benefit from more skills training, with £200 million to help them launch careers in key industries.

Introducing Building Blocks into Construction - Unlocking Potential, Building Futures

The CCATF is supporting and providing project management services for a new and innovative skills and training pilot and project aimed at encouraging new talent into the construction sector. With an underpinning ambition of accessing those individuals that may find it harder to gain employment this project, in the pilot phase, focuses on the London regions and boroughs.

Every pound raised through the levy should be spent on apprenticeships

Any reform of the apprenticeship levy should first ensure it fully delivers – and is seen to deliver - what it was intended to.

King’s Speech 2023: What was promised for FE and skills

Government pledges to introduce Advanced British Standard and increase apprenticeships

National Federation of Builders, Top 100 Women in Construction Awards are back for their second year

Last year marked the first ever NFB Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards. It was the start of real change for the industry, showcasing women in the sector to make female and non-binary role models more visible and accessible. Its purpose was to make the change and build construction as more inclusive together with plugging the skills gap.

Construction Leadership Council - Employer Survey: Routes into Industry

Our industry is experiencing major change with both demand for skilled workers and new skills happening at the same time.

 The move to Net Zero is accelerating this; creating new jobs with new skills, but as importantly increasing the need for more construction workers as we build new non-fossil fuel power stations, windfarms, solar farms, infrastructure and retrofit some 29 million domestic and commercial premises.

MPB Structures appoint Martyn Price MBE to develop apprenticeships and skills outcomes

MPB Structures Ltd are one of the UK’s top 10 Concrete Frame specialist contractors, operating across London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

They have just confirmed the appointment of Martyn Price MBE as their Business and People Development Director, signalling a major investment in developing a sustainable future talent pipeline and the skills and competencies of their existing workforce.

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education provides update

The Rt.Hon. Robert Halfon, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education has today provided an update on the first 6 months of the 2022 to 2023 academic year and the full-year apprenticeship achievement rates for the 2021 to 2022 academic year.

A full transcript of the update is available here.

Building the Operational Construction Workforce of 2030

The construction workforce needs to be reskilled for the digitised, Net-Zero economy underpinned by modern methods of construction by 2030.  Government’s policy is to support this step change in competency and skills and it plans, working with industry, to both rationalise occupations and upgrade qualifications to match new safety and quality standards by 2027.

AELP slam ‘disastrous’ plans to axe traineeships

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has slammed plans to axe the traineeship programme, as announced in a ministerial statement made recently (Monday 12 December).

Strong support for CCATF-NOCN White Paper

Speaking about the recently produced white paper, Angela Carney at Carney Consulting offers her reflections on the findings within the “Building construction operational workforce of 2030” white paper.

Temporary apprenticeship funding band uplifts planned for later this month, DfE reveals

Providers will need to 'present conclusive evidence that costs of delivery have been substantially impacted'

DfE delays ‘devastating’ level 2 qualification reforms for a year

But plans to scrap thousands of level 2 and below courses go ahead

CCATF-NOCN Skills White Paper

Building the construction operational workforce of 2030

In direct response to the governments review of post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below earlier this year leading construction apprenticeships and skills membership organisation the Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) began a collaboration with NOCN Group, a market-leading international Awarding Organisation with a significant focus in the construction sector.

Mayor of Birmingham, Andy Street, talks with CCATF Chair, Martyn Price, MBE, about the paper. 

 

 

Building the construction operational workforce of 2030

In direct response to the governments review of post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below earlier this year leading construction apprenticeships and skills membership organisation the Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) began a collaboration with NOCN Group, a market-leading international Awarding Organisation with a significant focus in the construction sector.

Dispelling myths about EPA's

With an ever present confusion relating to certain interpretations of what EPA's are and are not, this short guide aims to help remove many of the most important and common misunderstandings.

 

What options are available for students after their GCSEs?

After young people have completed their GCSEs there are a range of possibilities open to them including continuing education by taking A levels or going down one of several technical education routes now available to them, including T Levels.

Here, we provide some of the exciting options for post-16 education.

University isn’t the only option for young people

Hundreds of thousands of young people nervously await news of their A LevelT Level and level 3 VTQ grades today. It’s an exciting time for those who receive the results they were looking for. However, it’s a stressful time for those may not have quite achieved the grades they were hoping to with a scramble to decide what to do next. Either way, the next few weeks are the start of a new chapter in so many young people’s lives – but are those young people making the most informed choice they can?

Apprenticeship Funding Rules: Big Changes are Coming in a Matter of Days

Last week, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) published version one of the apprenticeship training rules for 2022/23. These rules come into force on 1 August and are an update after the clarification period which followed publication of the draft rules in May.

Following the ESFA and Department for Education (DfE) reorganisation, the rules are set by the DfE policy team, but administered by the ESFA. There were some real positives announced in the draft rules, however some concerns remained. Version one of the rules contains some further improvements from the draft guidance, however, with just a few days to go until implementation,  providers have had to get up to speed with very little notice.

Over £3 billion in unspent apprenticeship levy lost to Treasury ‘black hole’ new data reveals

Apprenticeships experts warn that the Treasury must be more transparent on how it spends the billions returned to its coffers. Rigid apprenticeship system blamed for billions of skills funding going unspent by businesses and being returned to the Treasury

Three quarters of the 195,000 apprentices under the government's incentive scheme were aged 16-24.

Calls renewed for apprenticeship incentive payments as data shows ‘rebalance’ towards young people

Supporting apprentices with free CSCS cards

Employers and the wider industry are being reminded of the importance of ensuring those on, or about to enter, apprenticeships are using the appropriate Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card – specifically the Apprentice card.

A young apprentice - Logan's Story

At sixteen I decided I wanted to be part of the construction industry but I wasn’t certain in which role. I had previously approached O’Halloran & O’Brien Ltd and I was fortunate to be offered a 2 week structured work experience programme. The work experience opportunity really helped to develop my understanding of the construction industry and the varied job roles.

SkillBuild 2022 Registrations now open

SkillBuild, delivered by CITB, is the largest multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. 

CCATF announces funding agreement with NOCN Group

Leading education charity NOCN Group announces sponsorship of UK construction apprenticeship support organisation CCATF.

Skills Minister responds to CCATF call for apprenticeship support

Mr Martyn Price

Chairman, Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force   

Dear Mr Price,

15 February 2022

Thank you for your letter of 20 January about supporting progression into apprenticeships.

It is always useful to receive insight from sector bodies and I have passed on your suggestions to policy officials.

CCATF Seeks apprenticeship support from new Skills Minister

The Right Honourable Alex Burghart MP

Thursday 20th January 2022 Dear Minister,

RE: Apprenticeship Incentive Payments & alignment with Kickstart placements 

I’d firstly like to take the opportunity to congratulate you on your recent appointment and look forward to engaging with you on apprenticeship and skills related matters in the future. We enjoyed a purposeful relationship with your predecessor and hope that we can build upon that successful dialogue. Gillian also kindly offered a valuable contribution to our recent CCATF Apprenticeship Vision 2021/22 document, which I enclose and hope you consider this to still be both relevant and supportive of apprenticeships within the construction sector.

CCATF Member: Lee Marley Brickwork Opens New London Head Office & Graduate Hub in Notting Hill

Lee Marley Brickwork (LMB) is one of the UK’s leading integrated brickwork, scaffolding and stone sub-contractors. With premises already in Reading, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Nottingham, the company are delighted to announce the opening of their new London Head Office conveniently located in Notting Hill. Easily accessible with good transport links, Notting Hill is one of London's most vibrant and iconic neighbourhoods.

CCATF Apprenticeship Vision - New Publication

The CCATF Apprenticeship Vision document - 2012-22 is now available as an on-line e-brochure. For access please cut & paste the link below into your browser.

ESFA: "Provider guide to delivering high-quality apprenticeships"

The ESFA webinar discussing recognition of prior learning can be viewed here: https://t.co/JYa8W8Rx9e?amp

Budget 2021: Skills & Education Highlights

In delivery his Budget speech yesterday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak made several direct references to matter relating to skills and the wider education sector. For ease of reference we have listed below the ‘highlights’ of his announcements.

Letter of Response from Gillian Keegan MP


Letter of Response received from Gillian Keegan MP. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills

A young carpenter's success story

A young carpenter has become one of the UK’s leading specialist interior fit-out contractors first on site apprentice in London to complete a national assessment programme.

Strong growth in apprentices supported by CCATF membership

Having undertaken a recent survey of its members the Cross Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) has posted some impressive results in terms of its support for apprenticeships across the construction sector.

CCATF seek extension of incentives for apprentices

CCATF Chair, Martyn Price, MBE, has written to Rt. Hon. Gillian Keegan seeking an extension of the incentives currently being offered in support of apprentices. A copy of the letter has been reproduced below.

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

 

Call for construction employers to encourage more women to become apprentices

A rallying call has come from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the industry for construction employers to increase the number of female apprentices in their business.

Call for more women into construction

A newcomer to a leading specialist interior fit-out contractor has encouraged more women to consider a career in the construction industry.

CLC sets out its mid-term strategy in the CLC Strategy 2021

The strategy sets out more detail on:

  • Vision and strategic priorities
  • The CLC’s delivery plan
  • How the CLC works
  • How the industry can get involved

350,000 new construction jobs needed to hit Net Zero target

Around 350,000 new construction jobs will need to be created by 2028 to keep the government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 on track.

Chancellor makes technical education a pivotal feature of the Budget.

The Chancellor, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, has made technical education a pivotal feature of the Budget today after declaring that “protecting, creating, and supporting jobs is my highest priority.”

The crucial announcements were:

Guinness Celebrates Success of Chesterfield Apprentice Plumber

To mark National Apprentice Week (8-14 Feb) The Guinness Partnership, housing association, celebrates its apprenticeship programme and the value apprentices bring to local communities.

Jake Day from Chesterfield was inspired to take up plumbing as a career by his dad, who was in the trade himself. Jake successfully completed an apprenticeship and has now secured a full-time role working for The Guinness Partnership as a qualified plumber.

Guinness Celebrates Success of Apprentice Programme for National Apprentice Week

To mark National Apprentice Week (8-14 Feb) The Guinness Partnership, housing association, celebrates its apprenticeship programme and the value that apprenticeships bring to local communities.

Lee Marley Brickwork Applauds Apprentices for Adapting to The Challenges of Covid-19

National Apprentice Week runs between the 8th-14th February and this year the team at CCATF Member, Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd are celebrating their amazing apprentices and how well they’ve adapted to the changes in training that Covid-19 has created.

CATHEDRAL CRAFTS GIVEN FUNDING LIFELINE TO HELP PRESERVE ENGLISH CATHEDRALS IN THE PANDEMIC

 

`The Hamish Ogston Foundation (HOF) has announced a grant of £535,000 to the CathedralsWorkshop Fellowship (CWF) to fund twenty-one stonemasonry and joinery trainees at English cathedrals in 2021, as part of a longer-term investment aimed at keeping alive the specialist skills needed to repair and maintain our cathedrals.

Being an Apprentice at EE Smith

Name: Knate Smith

Age: 18:

Joined EE Smith Contracts: September 2019

Apprenticeship: Level 2 in carpentry at Leicester College

New Year sees advanced preparations for new, state of the art construction training academy.

With offices in Surrey and Kent this thriving business, recognised as one of the fastest growing businesses in the sector, seeks to make a significant impact on the skills shortage in the region by opening its own training academy. Providing 1,000 training places and delivering industry approved training to NVQ level, the organisation is taking direct action to address what it sees as a debilitating shortage of trained workers in groundworks and civil engineering roles.

CCATF confirms West Midlands Combined Authority as its newest member

The Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) is delighted to announce it will be collaborating with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) on skills and apprenticeship related issues within the region as the WMCA becomes the latest high-profile organisation to join the CCATF.

New construction minister appointed

Kwasi Kwarteng, the Eton-educated MP for Spelthorne, has taken over from Nadhim Zahawi as construction minister .

London South Bank University student wins Construction Services Apprentice of the year award

A London South Bank University (LSBU) student has won a prestigious Construction Services Apprentice of the year award at the BAME Apprenticeships Awards 2020.  A second, female engineering LSBU apprentice has also been highly commended.

The CCATF and Transport for London come together to collaborate on skills and apprenticeships

The Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) have announced that Transport for London (TfL) have become the latest high-profile organisation to join their member community.

Strategic Thinking - A fresh perspective

Strategic Thinking

I have heard it said that Covid-19 could be viewed as a ‘Time Machine’ that has transported our future to us sooner than we expected. Epidemics such as Covid-19 tend to accelerate pre-existing trends i.e. Digital transition & interfaces for a wide range of tasks, online interactions & relationships, more home working etc. Therefore, there has never been a better time to consider an organisation/business strategy to benefit from the ‘Time Machine’. It seems to me that we have to re look (revisit) the term ‘Strategy’ if we wish to benefit from this monumental (historic) change.

ESFA Announces T Level launch

We’re pleased to share the news that T Levels have now started

National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 – open for entries

Calling out to all apprentice employers, inspirational apprentices, rising stars and individuals who champion apprenticeships - as the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 are now open for entries!

Applications for the incentive payment for hiring an apprentice are open

Employer incentives for hiring new apprentices applications go live

CCATF repeat calls for relaxation of Apprenticeship rules

 

Dear Secretary of State,

Construction Plant - Apprenticeship related issues

How to take on an apprentice - Government guidance

Introduction

This guide explains what an employer needs to do and the things they need to consider if they want to employ an apprentice.

External quality assurance of apprenticeships - expanded role for Ofqual confirmed

 

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has today (4 August 2020) published its consultation outcomes which confirm the arrangements to simplify the External Quality Assurance (EQA) of apprenticeship End Point Assessments.

Skills to Fight Back – Where’s the Plan?

Graham Hasting-Evans from @NOCNGroup discusses the Chancellors Summer Economic Statement

COVID-19 presents the greatest challenge to our Country since World War Two.  Accordingly, we need actions that match up to the scale of the challenge.

Traineeships to get £111m boost from Treasury

The funding will triple the number of traineeships available to young people and tackle the rise in youth unemployment.

New package of support for T Level industry placements

A new package of support to help employers and FE providers deliver high-quality industry placements which are at the heart of pioneering new T Level qualifications have been announced today (Friday 3 July) by Gillian Keegan, Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships.

Government urged to save free London travel for 16-18s

The 16+ Oyster card provides free travel for students in London - but it is set to scrapped, affecting thousands of disadvantaged students

The Association of Colleges has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps, urging him against scrapping free travel for 16- to 18-year-olds in London

Government urged to integrate major construction sites into test and trace

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called on the Government to set up COVID-19 testing stations on major construction sites around the UK to ensure any outbreaks are tracked and traced as quickly as possible, enabling construction to bounce back quickly and safely.

5 key considerations for making an apprentice guarantee a reality

Robert Halfon @Halfon4harlowMP explains what he means by a guarantee of an apprenticeship for young people 

The Department for Education announces new providers selected to deliver T Levels from Sep 2022

The Department for Education has announced the 88 new providers selected to deliver T Levels from September 2022. 

Assessing the apprenticeship levy three years on

This year marks the third anniversary of the government’s apprenticeship reforms, and with each passing year, we’ve seen the commentary on it evolve.

CCATF urge Secretary of State to take action to support displaced apprentices

The Right Honourable Gavin Williamson MP
Secretary of State for the Department for Education

Tuesday 28th April 2020

Dear Secretary of State,

RE: Exceptional (construction) apprenticeship support measures 

Letter from Gillian Keegan MP in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Dear Colleagues,

 

I wanted to write to you and thank you for all of your hard work and continued commitment during what I know is a very difficult time.

 

We are facing an unprecedented challenge and I recognise that as teachers and leaders working to provide education, training, and assessment and to support your learners, you are on the frontline of our national effort.

Minister promises ‘significant funding’ in ‘coming year’ for SME apprenticeships, claims AELP

New skills minister Gillian Keegan has pledged “significant funding” for additional small business apprenticeships in the “coming year”, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers has claimed. 

DfE Research - Apprentice Progression

Employer Brief

Learning and Work Institute (L&W), an independent research organisation, are conducting research on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) to inform their understanding of how people are supported to progress through apprenticeships, to at least Level 3 and above, including any barriers to this.

CCATF receives funding extension from City & Guilds

Following the first, hugely successful three-year core funding support agreement, the CCATF have now received formal confirmation from City & Guilds of an initial one-year extension up to the end of 2020.

Welsh woman named best construction Apprentice in 2019

Ammanford apprentice, mother-of-two Lynsey Davies has beaten builders across the UK to scoop the award for the Best Apprentice in the prestigious Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) Master Builder Awards 2019. These awards are designed to celebrate the nation’s best builders and the winners have just been announced in front of a packed audience at a ceremony in London.

NAS Non-Levy Webinar Invite

The National Apprenticeship Service is holding webinars regarding non-levy employers joining the apprenticeship service.

Last week, NAS announced further details for SMEs (that don’t pay the levy), on accessing the apprenticeship service from 2020: https://bit.ly/2QAauIk.

In order to support small and medium-sized employers joining the apprenticeship service, NAS is also hosting dedicated webinars for intermediary organisations. Unfortunately, these will not include policy information or Q&A sessions due to pre-election restrictions.

You can register to join the webinars here and the sessions will be hosted on the following dates: 

  • Friday 29 November
  • Wednesday 18 December

 Please also feel free to forward this message on to any respective employers which you feel would be of use for.

 

City & Guilds awarded contract to deliver T Level technical qualifications

City & Guilds has been awarded the contract to deliver two T Level technical qualifications under the Construction route in: Building Services Engineering and On-Site Construction. The organisation said, "We’re very excited to be part of this new direction for technical education. These new qualifications will be developed in collaboration with EAL (Excellence Achievement and Learning)."

Daniel Gardner – An Apprenticeship success story

 “Would you like milk?”

"Would you like milk?” Every day Daniel estimated he would be saying this over 100 times to customers. He was fed up and needed a change. Now Daniel wakes up for work excited and relishes the chance to get stuck in. He loves being able to work outside on a site and feels valued by Balfour Beatty who are putting so much into his training. Daniel started his apprenticeship journey in February 2016.

Billy Walton - An Apprenticeship success story

In February of 2016 Billy Walton embarked on his journey to become a Materials Technician with Balfour Beatty. It was not always a smooth journey to get to this stage, but Billy, through determination and dedication has hit the ground running and is now showcasing his talent at the Balfour Beatty site on the M3.

Triple Apprenticeship success at SCS Group

Three SCS Group staff who started at the smoke control and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) company as apprentices are progressing well within the firm having completed their apprenticeships.

Luke Jones, Josh Parkhurst, and Edd Wilkinson all did different apprenticeships that saw them studying at college as well as undertaking practical training at the company.

Jamie, A ‘Future Made’ apprentice success story.

Jamie O’Hara, a 26-year-old Shopfitter / Project Manager from Tekne Shopfitting Limited recently participated in the CITB ‘Future Made’ Campaign as ‘Jamie The Shopfitter’.

LSBU FIRST UK UNIVERSITY TO BECOME MEMBER OF CROSS-INDUSTRY CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICESHIP TASK FORCE

 London South Bank University (LSBU) is the first UK university to be invited {insert date here} to become a member of the Cross-industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF),

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education: Funding myth buster

Each apprenticeship is allocated to one of 30 funding bands, which range from £1,500 to £27,000.

When the Institute makes a funding recommendation, we take into account a range of factors including: quotes from training providers; a review of training and assessment costs; a comparison with similar standards; and affordability. The Secretary of State for Education then makes the final decision.

In May, Lucy Rigler wrote a blog summarising the Funding team’s first wave of improvements, which were aimed at making the funding process easier to understand. Having recently taken on Lucy’s role, I thought it would be useful to answer some of the common myths around funding band decisions to give you more information about how we reach our recommendations.

Encouraging generation Z into the construction industry

Generation Z is most commonly associated with those born between 1995 and 2010. They are the first generation who are unlikely to remember a time before the internet. They have grown up with an array of technology with connectivity 24/7.

Chancellor Sajid Javid pledges £600m ‘infrastructure revolution’

Chancellor Sajid Javid has unveiled more than £600m of new infrastructure spending, as he commits to an ‘infrastructure revolution’ over the next 12 months

 The infrastructure revolution funding, which will come from the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), will go towards the construction of roads, rail links, schools and other infrastructure schemes.

 

Get involved - City & Guilds T Levels

T Levels are new, two-year level 3 technical programs that will sit alongside apprenticeships and A Levels within a reformed skills training system, primarily aimed at 16-18 learners. T Levels have been designed to create the skills revolution needed to meet the needs of our economy and are being developed in partnership with Government, business and education.

A-levels are not the only path into construction

With A-Level students in receipt of their results, the National Federation of Builders (NFB) wanted to highlight that construction is the most exciting and innovative industry in the United Kingdom and it’s not just for those wanting to get their hands dirty!

If you are still deciding your career path, the following facts may help you consider construction as the most rewarding and exciting of all your options.

New construction minister announced

 

Nadhim Zahawi has been named as the new construction minister – making him the third person to hold the post this year.

New T-level study to be worth three A-levels

Students who achieve the very top grade in their T-level qualification will have the equivalent of three A*s at A-level, it has been announced.

 University admissions service Ucas says a starred distinction will be worth 168 Ucas points - the same as three A*s, each worth 56 points. 

Those who are awarded a merit will have the equivalent of three Bs at A-level. The government says the "size and rigour" of the new T-level course is comparable to studying three A-levels.

 The two-year qualifications are being brought in England next September.

 

Education Secretary to lead on skills brief

Today, Tuesday 30 July, the Government have announced that the new Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will be leading on the skills brief with ministerial support from Children’s Minister Kemi Badenoch.

As already announced Jo Johnson will return to the department. This will be in his previous role as Universities Minister, in addition to also returning as a minister at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

A Department of Education spokesperson said:

All ministerial appointments have now been made and the Education Secretary will be leading on the skills brief, with support from the new Children’s Minister Kemi Badenoch.As the Prime Minister has said, further education and skills will be a priority for this government - and the Education Secretary taking the lead for this vital work is a reflection of that commitment.

Article courtesy of www.gov.uk 

ESFA calls on small and medium sized apprenticeship employers and supporting training providers to help develop the Apprenticeship Service

 

The ESFA has opened an Expressions of Interest (EOI) for small and medium sized employers and supporting training providers to help the ESFA in its initial phase, to test the system functionality of the apprenticeship service for employers who do not pay the Levy.

Secretary of State announcement on Apprenticeships

Small and medium sized businesses, who don’t pay the Apprenticeship Levy, will take full control over apprenticeships in their business as they come on board the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s award-winning apprenticeship service.

Apprenticeships and Students get big push

 

The Quality Alliance of regulatory bodies has unveiled its Quality Strategy for Apprenticeships; UCEM has launched a Level 3 FM Supervisor apprenticeship; and Sodexo will be working with Enactus to encourage the next generation of innovators.

Incentivise the apprenticeships that actually boost productivity

Apprenticeship funding mechanisms should be weighted to favour those standards that boost employability and earnings, argues Nicole Gicheva

The First Twelve Institutes of Technology Announced

 

On 10 April 2019, the government announced that 12 IoTs will be set up across the country. The lead applicants for the 12 successful IoTs are:

• Barking & Dagenham College

• Dudley College of Technology

• HCUC

• Milton Keynes College

• New College Durham

• Queen Mary University of London

• Solihull College & University Centre

• Swindon College

• University of Exeter

• University of Lincoln

• Weston College of Further and Higher Education

• York College

 IoT competition process:

In December 2017, we launched a 2-stage competition for employers, FE providers and universities to develop collaborative proposals and bid for a share of a £170m capital fund to establish new IoTs.

Stage 1

35 applicants submitted proposals at stage 1 in March 2018. In May 2018, 16 applicants were shortlisted to proceed to stage 2.

Stage 2

Stage 2 of the competition launched in August 2018. 15 applicants submitted proposals at stage 2 in November 2018

Next steps

Successful applicants will work with the Department for Education to agree the detail of their licence agreements and capital funding agreements.

Following this, IoTs can start to develop the buildings and facilities they need.

The first IoTs are expected to open from September 2019.

Twelve Institutes of Technology will be set up across the country to boost young people’s skills and set them on a clear path to a high skilled, high wage career, Education Secretary Damian Hinds has announced.

Quicker CSCS skills cards as applications move online

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is launching an online service to speed-up the card application process.

The cards are used by the majority of contactors and clients to provide proof that individuals working on construction sites have the required training and qualifications for the type of work they carry out.

Construction T levels under threat from lack of teachers

College chiefs are warning that a lack of funding could undermine plans for construction T levels.

The qualification will be equivalent to an A level and is designed to encourage a whole new generation of youngsters into construction.

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