Apprentices - Grab 'Em While They're Hot

• Content
• News
• Apprentices - Grab 'Em While They're Hot

05 March 2019

With surveys repeatedly highlighting that the construction industry is not attracting enough talent to meet growing demand, BSRIA is calling on the industry to make the most of apprenticeship opportunities.

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (March 4-8), BSRIA revealed the findings of a survey that shows 78 per cent of member companies were having trouble finding suitably qualified workers

The theme of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW2019) is Blaze a Trail and showcases how apprenticeships work for individuals, employers, local communities and the wider economy.

As in previous years, NAW2019 will see a range of activities and events being hosted across the country. Government wants to change the perceptions people have on what an apprenticeship is and who takes them up. Also, to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to take up an apprenticeship.

Mike Lee, Training Manager, BSRIA, said: “Apprenticeships attract wide-ranging talent and are important in ensuring industry is future proofed. They can help improve employee retention and, especially, bring fresh ideas and ways of working into the workplace.

"There are more experienced people leaving the construction industry than new joiners coming in at age 18-25. An apprenticeship is a job with training and builds a foundation for a job for life."

Built environment - INSPIRE

BSRIA is calling for the emphasis to shift from one of being a ‘construction industry’ to one dedicated to the ‘built environment’. This will go a long way to change the image of our industry and make it a more attractive career proposition.

The spirit of NAW 2019 fits in well with BSRIA’s INSPIRE project which is working with local schools, national and local politicians and the media to promote STEM and change its perceptions. In the summer of 2018, BSRIA continued its tradition of building and sharing knowledge by recruiting a summer intern to give her experience in the professional workplace and undertake a perceptive report: available to download: Inspiring Tomorrow's Engineers which looks at the careers of some successful engineers at BSRIA, among its membership and in the industry.

Picture: Apprentice engineer

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 05 March 2019

Share

Related Articles