Construction bosses reject Scots' apprentice system

Union proposals to adopt the Scottish apprenticeship system in England and Wales have been dismissed by employers as impractical.

Their rejection follows claims by the operative side of the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) that the structure in England and Wales is "no longer fit for purpose" due to an ageing workforce, with insufficient apprenticeships and a lack of work experience placements.

They asked CIJC employers to adopt the Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC) model, which is composed of an equal number of employer and operative members and closely monitors the recruitment, working conditions, and training quality of apprentices.

But Gerry Lean, industrial relations director at the Construction Confederation, said: "We do not think the idea is practicable. The industry in England is very different to that in Scotland where there is a much higher degree of direct employment. We don't want to take on measures that could have the reverse effect of what is intended."

He added that although employers agreed with the unions on the need to boost the quality and quantity of apprentice training, they thought it could be achieved by taking a more active role in the established apprentice management committee run by the industry's training board.

Latest union figures showed 40,000 youngsters were applying for only 9,000 available placements.

The unions also pointed out that the Scottish council is responsible for training a third of all apprentices in Britain, although the population of Scotland is just under 9% of Britain as a whole.

In Scotland there are seven apprentices for every 100 building workers. By contrast, in London and the South East of England, the proportion is 0.9 apprentices per 100 workers.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of Ucatt, said he was disappointed at the employers' response, but was not prepared to let the matter drop.

"It is no accident that the apprentice structure in Scotland is so successful. The SBATC is a product of a successful industrial partnership between the employers and the trade unions. It rigorously guards the standards of the Scottish apprentice system and promotes the benefits of working in the industry to young people in Scotland."