Press Release
Sector Skills Agreement for East of England construction industry to tackle skills needs
18 October 2005
The vision of a construction industry in the East of England that is fully qualified, highly professional and working safely to deliver outstanding value, came a step closer this week with the launch of a Sector Skills Agreement (SSA) that puts employers squarely at the centre of decisions about the funding and delivery of training in construction.
The construction industry SSA, negotiated by ConstructionSkills, is a series of agreements between training providers, employers and government to address the construction industry’s current and future skills needs, such as increasing the number of young people completing construction apprenticeships.
Adrian Bouckley, CITB-ConstructionSkills East & Greater London Area Manager, commented: “Our overriding aim is to ensure the qualifications, business support, training and funding infrastructures in the East of England are such that the industry has the right people with the right skills in the right place at the right time in order to meet client expectations on quality, time and cost.”
Alison Lys, Head of Skills at the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), welcomed the Sector Skills Agreement. She said: “Employers, government and providers agreeing a common set of priorities is enormously helpful in focusing efforts to tackle areas of greatest need in a joined-up way.”
Matthew Fletcher, Director of Skills, Learning and Skills Council in Essex, said:
“The many benefits that a skilled construction industry workforce can contribute to the client, employer and community agenda are crucial for the economic and social development of the East of England. Initiatives that ensure dialogue and co-ordinate action with employers, providers and funding organisations provide the opportunity to make things happen.”
Current major projects in the East of England include the £5 – 6bln Haven Gateway project including the Colchester Garrison regeneration; Thames Gateway South Essex; three new school deals for Essex, Bedfordshire and Norfolk County Councils; recruits will also be needed for a new rail link between Ipswich and Oxford as well as the £100m Grand Arcade redevelopment in Cambridge and the M1 extension programme.
The industry in the East has openings for professional and graduate level entrants: from civil engineers to landscape architects. For example, between 2004 and 2008, we expect to have opportunities for 9,790 managers, 4,620 painters and decorators, 5,770 bricklayers and 11,810 in wood trades.
Over the long term, construction output in the East is set to be 15.4% higher in 2008 than in 2003.
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