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Leading the way in training the construction industry

By Rebecca Rhodes, Skills Director for Sectors at the Learning and Skills Council

According to recent industry reports by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the UK's multi-billion pound construction sector is experiencing a period of growth, with employers looking to hire more staff to meet rising workloads.

However, the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) recent National Employer's Skills Survey revealed that 40 per cent of job vacancies in the construction industry remain unfilled due to a lack of skilled candidates. This is the second highest skills shortage of any UK industry and is threatening the sector's future expansion.

One of the initiatives that the government has introduced with the aim of ensuring training across all industry sectors is flexible and responsive to both employers' needs and skills shortages, is the Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE).

Funded by the LSC, CoVEs are characterised by close links between colleges, other providers, business partners, other employment interests and communities. They aim to produce appropriately qualified and skilled workers with excellent employment and career prospects which meet the needs of the economy.

To achieve and maintain CoVE status, colleges must work closely with business and industry to deliver industry-relevant training of a high standard.

CoVEs were launched in 2001, with the aim of creating 400 centres by 2006. To date 262 further education establishments have received either full or interim CoVE status and feedback from employers involved has reinforced the positive business benefits of the training.

According to the LSC's recent third-stage evaluation of CoVEs, almost half of employers cited an increase in business efficiency as a result of CoVE involvement, while 82% of users rated the training provided as “excellent” or “good”.

The introduction of CoVEs is good news for the construction industry, which currently estimates that it needs an extra 83,000 workers annually, according to the Construction Industry Training Board. There are currently 38 CoVEs specialising in construction training to help address this issue.

Cambridgeshire Construction CoVE

One training provider that has been awarded full CoVE status is the Cambridgeshire Construction CoVE. This CoVE incorporates Peterborough Regional College and Cambridge Regional College. The funding received from the LSC has been used to upgrade classrooms and study areas and set up a variety of new initiatives from within the colleges. For example, an AM2 Electrical Installations Testing Centre to serve Cambridgeshire has been created with CoVE funding. The Centre has proved to be of great benefit to students who previously had to travel to either Norwich or Ipswich for this type of training.

Martin Johnston, Group Labour Manager at Cambridgeshire-based Aqua Group of building services companies, is convinced of the business benefits of the CoVE training: "This convenient location combined with the flexibility of the training has allowed us to continue with normal service while training was being undertaken, resulting in a much improved service to our clients."

There is also hard evidence to back up the success of the Cambridgeshire Construction CoVE: student numbers at the CoVE have increased by 35%, while employer participation is up by 52%.

For more information on CoVEs, please visit http://cove.lsc.gov.uk

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© 2005 Learning & Skills Council. Reproduced with permission.

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