EU funding to address skills challenges in Construction
Delegates from the housing and construction sectors met in Newquay recently for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s first Housing and Construction Conference. It brought together national and local investors, developers and businesses in housing and construction to find out about opportunities in the region for investment and growth. Delegates heard how Cornwall is taking a collaborative and strategic approach to growth by linking local strategies to grow the economy for all.
The conference was supported by Building Cornwall, the Construction sector led element of the Developing Skills for Business project which is funded by over £3,000,000 from the European Social fund. Led by Cornwall College, Developing Skills for Business is working with construction businesses to ensure they have the skills required to deliver the housing, workspace and infrastructure Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly need.
The critically important construction sector is worth £876m/year to the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and employs 25,000 people, but it faces a number of challenges including low productivity, weaknesses in the training system, increasing gaps in the workforce and a poor industry image despite average salaries of over £29,100/year and well-structured career pathways.
Developing Skills for Business will support businesses to identify their current and emerging skills needs and work with them to make sure local training meets business requirements. It will also promote the benefits of investing in apprentices and aims to create over 300 apprenticeships across the region’s priority sectors.
As workers leave construction they are not being replaced at the same rate, creating considerable opportunities for new entrants. The Construction Strategy Group supported by Developing Skills for Business, the LEP and industry partners will be working to change perceptions of the industry, highlighting the range of opportunities for people of all ages in a variety of professional roles such as project management, surveying and design, as well as technical roles ranging from traditional trades to advanced offsite manufacturing.
Simon Caklais, Chair of the Construction Strategy Group and member of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said, “It was great to see over 175 delegates at the conference and we hope that the majority will continue to engage with us and work collaboratively in the co-creation of solutions.”
Glenn Caplin, CEO of the Local Enterprise Partnership added, “Developing Skills for Business is an excellent example of how European funding can be used to respond to local needs and ensure Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has the skilled workforce it needs to support economic growth.”