Thousands of people who start construction training courses are failing to secure and sometimes finish apprenticeships, according to new figures released by construction union UCATT.
It found that while 167,000 young people started training courses for jobs in the construction industry in 2014/15, in that same year only 18,000 actually secured an apprenticeship in the building trades.
The figures were divulged – via a UCATT Freedom of Information request – by the government’s Skills Funding Agency, which showed that on average, around 150,000 students a year start a course in construction and yet only 12% get an apprenticeship.
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The statistics also revealed that even if young people can secure an apprenticeship, the drop-out levels were still very high at close to 50%. In 2014/15, 18,140 apprentices were undertaking training for an NVQ 3 but only 8,030 had actually achieved this benchmark level in 2013/14 and could embark on a career in construction.
UCATT acting general secretary, Brian Rye, said: “I’m horrified by these figures. What a waste of talent and government money, to take these young people through a course and then have them ignored by the construction industry.
“I’m horrified by these figures. What a waste of talent and government money, to take these young people through a course and then have them ignored by the construction industry.”
UCATT acting general secretary, Brian Rye
“We have a well-documented skills shortage in the construction industry and we have major constructors failing to take on apprentices. And yet hundreds of thousands of young people who want to work in the industry, who have taken the first step into the industry by taking a course, are just left on the scrap heap.”
However, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which has been one of the main champions of attracting young people to the industry, said it believed the figures weren’t entriely accurate.
Gillian Econopouly, head of policy and research at the CITB, told Construction Manager: “We believe these figures are misleading. It’s important to remember that not all training courses undertaken by young people are for new entrants. There are many courses designed to upskill existing workers to use specialist equipment, achieve health and safety qualifications, or develop their leadership and management skills. Many of those who undertake such courses are already working in the industry and may have already completed an apprenticeship.”
She added: “Apprenticeships are essential and we help thousands of employers take them on each year. But they are only a part of the industry’s skills mix. We are working hard to increase awareness about construction careers among young people online via Go Construct, and to make courses more relevant to employers’ needs by working with training providers. The industry needs a variety of training courses to equip the construction workforce with the skills that are required now and in the future.”
