CITB levy changes and skills shortages intensify in trade survey
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An on going skills shortage is reaching crisis point according to the latest survey of SME construction firms.
At the Federation of Master Builders’ Q2 2015 State of Trade Survey, chief executive Brian Berry commented : “There can be no doubt that the building industry is booming but the skills shortage continues to loom large over our industry.
“Almost half of construction SMEs are struggling to recruit adequate numbers of bricklayers, with others finding it increasingly hard to hire carpenters and joiners, site managers and supervisors.
“Looking ahead, our members are reporting that their workloads are likely to rise over the coming three months which means the shortage of skilled workers will only become more acute.
“It also begs the question, how much stronger would the pace of growth in the UK construction industry be if we had an ample supply of skilled tradespeople?”
Berry also raised doubts over the future of training and the CITB levy in construction following changes announced in the latest Budget.
He commented: “The Government is determined to increase the number of apprentices being trained by our industry over the coming five years but the recent announcement on the new levy has led to more questions than answers”
In the Summer Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government would be introducing a levy on large employers to fund three million high quality apprenticeships.
The Budget Statement said that “the levy will support all post-16 apprenticeships in England”
Berry said: “If this also includes the construction industry, the assumption is that the CITB levy will not continue.
“However, we are still unclear regarding the details surrounding this new alternative cross-industry levy.
“If the levy on large employers is only used to fund apprenticeship training by large employers, how will apprenticeship training by small firms be dealt with?
“Given that two-thirds of all construction apprentices are trained by micro firms, it’s vital that we have a system in place that drives high levels of apprenticeship training through companies of every size.
“We are keen to work closely with the Government over the coming weeks – the stakes couldn’t be higher so we must get this right.”
If all the training was better priced for the working class man, and not free for those on benefits it would. Help
To right Ray
On your own is very hard to get a course or a nvq, everybody taks about funding but that is quite discrete in my opinion and not available for those who work. How a labourer working 50h a week and who has a family could afford rent pay bills and pay for a course and nvq when most of time that costs his wages for over a month, not mentioning it needs time of to achieve that? Small and medium companys do not really care about training, big ones some times do but most of time they discard when people working for them need a renewal or update and prefer putting a add for a job as they look for a trade as do not want the hassle… Even if we admit or not is only about the money and paperwork our days not about the skill …
Thanks for your comment john the price of courses has got ridiculous the CITB and CSCS have crucified the working man over the years with courses forthis and that and the constant renewal fees when you are already doing the job,
I am a carpenter original but needed a slinger signaler to bank in the timber frames this cost £275 in 2003 when I went to use the card again they said it had run out and wanted me to resit the course for £1000 in 2014 now why should I do that I have already paid.
Its all gone stupid its like they just see working men as cash cows to milk at there bequest.
This is a comment I pulled from facebook over this post and I totally agree with Kevin more who posted this.
1 Get rid of all the Agencies and Subbies making huge amounts of money from Tradesmen .
2 Stop employers using offshore companies for payments ,again making huge amounts of money at the Tradesmens expense. (Charging the Tradesman for he’s wage to be processed).
3 Take on Tradesmen directly, cards in and pay a rate of pay equivalent to the skill and labour involved including holiday pay and bonus where appropriate.
4 Stop all the stupid card systems making billions from the Tradesmen, once your trained that should be enough, maybe a refresher course every 5 years funded by the Government, after all it’s these people that demand all this rigmarole. ( Stealing again from the Tradesman )
5 Get rid of the jumped up little pricks that attend a University for a couple of years then walk round like they created the universe. Trust me I have a dog at home with more common sense than 99% of them. Create the peerage from internal ,involving the people that have actually been on the tools , who understand the trials and tribulations that the Tradesmen have to endure.
You all know who care to read this that it will never happen because there are too many BROWN ENVELOPES being passed around.
Before you ask ,I am a Bricklayer with 35 years experience 16 of those in Supervisory roles and yes I do know my job. Rant over.