Bovis Lend Lease tackles construction skills shortage

Bovis Lend Lease has launched a new training company to increase construction industry skills.

Be Onsite, a not for profit organisation, aims to provide onsite training and employment, focusing on industry skills where, currently, no training is available. The new company- which will begin its first pilot scheme this year- aims to tackle inner unemployment. The firm will be run in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, ConstructionSkills, the Learning and Skills Council and the London development Agency.

ConstructionSkills estimates the construction industry needs over 85,000 new entrants per year. Many of these entrants will need new skills with an increasing focus on new prefabricated building techniques, smart buildings, sustainable development and environmental technologies.

Bovis Lend Lease community development head and MD of Be Onsite, Val Lowman comments: "Small firms with fewer than 14 workers represent 94% of the construction industry and employ 39% of all workers. These firms need all the help they can get."