CJ recently said ConstructionSkills should look to offer 'conversion' courses to the industry - which would place the contractor in the driving seat when it comes to training by providing the skills they ask us to provide, when and where they need them.
However, this is already taking place and the success rate is excellent. Through the National Construction College (NCC) - the training arm of ConstructionSkills - we have been sitting down with employers to find out their skills requirements for particular projects.
For instance, our plant training centre at Eton Manor, which forms part of the Olympic site, is a temporary training hub, set up to provide bespoke training to meet the needs of the Olympic build. Run by the NCC, it has National Skills Academy for Construction status and is funded in partnership with the ODA, the LDA and the LSC.
More than 280 trainees have now passed their assessments since the site was launched in February, with a pass rate of 83%. The contractor gets what it needs, and the NCC is flexible enough to provide it quickly and locally. It's all about dialogue, and we urge more employers to get on board with us. In fact, some employers will come down to the site to meet informally to discuss training needs and it is this relationship building that is really making this process work.
Following the achievements of Eton Manor, the NCC will be opening another site in Newham soon, again to meet the specific demands of contractors.
Andy Walder
Director
National Construction College