300 firms back diploma

The ConstructionSkills-led scheme awards firms offering work experience and tutoring students with a certificate and a recognition mark that they can use in marketing material.

Wates Construction was the first company to be recognised. Managing director Dave Smith said: ‘Practical skills-based training plays a key role in developing a workforce with the right skills for individual businesses and the wider construction industry. We believe the diploma will go some way to developing a highly skilled workforce for the future.’

Despite fears of a lack of interest from contractors, almost 300 firms have already committed to support the C&BE, including Seddon Group, Bovis, Laing O’Rourke, Lovell, Wates, Rok, Balfour Beatty, Kier, Persimmon Homes and Carillion.

‘We don’t anticipate any problem securing on-site placements or visits,’ said Paul Cannons, co-chair of the C&BE in London’s borough of Newham. ‘The Construction Youth Trust will open up placements in the City, possibly starting at the end of the first term, and our sixth-form college has good links with several contractors, including Bovis, Galliford Try and others.’

Janet Northover, C&BE consortium director for Ashfield District in Nottinghamshire, said: ‘The downturn shouldn’t affect the number of placements, there are always maintenance projects if newbuild dries up. Although we don’t offer the course until September 2009, we’ve already got Carillion interested in offering site placements in 2010 and others have shown interest.’

The C&BE combines learning about the design and creation of the built environment with generic learning and work experience.