BSRIA calls on industry to get involved with National Apprenticeship Week 2019

[edit] Introduction

With surveys repeatedly highlighting that the construction industry is not attracting enough talent to meet growing demand, and a recent BSRIA survey finding that 78% of member companies were having trouble finding suitably qualified workers, BSRIA is calling for industry to make the most of National Apprenticeship Week 2019 (NAW2019). It runs from Monday 4th to Friday 8th March 2019 and brings together employers and apprentices from across England to celebrate the success of apprenticeships.

This annual celebration of apprenticeships will bring the whole apprenticeship community together to celebrate the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.

[edit] Blaze a Trail

The theme of 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.

“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.

“One of the major threats to house building is the skills shortage in construction. Industry recruitment is hard – there are simply not enough new trainees and graduates emerging from the system. Apprenticeships can help plug this gap.

“Put simply: an apprenticeship can take you anywhere. Young people, engineers and entrepreneurs alike can rise to the top through traineeships and apprenticeships.”

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.

[edit] Further information

• @Apprenticeships
• #WorksForMe
• #10kTalks

National Apprenticeship Week 2019, co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, is an “exciting opportunity” to celebrate apprenticeships and how they benefit people, businesses, communities and our economy.

National Apprenticeship Week 2018 was record-breaking, with 780 events taking place across England. The ambition of delivering a 10,000 talks movement – #10kTalks – to inspire the next generation of apprentices was exceeded, reaching over 33,500 people in over 300 schools across the country.

Now in its 12th year, this national moment brings together everyone passionate about apprenticeships to encourage more people to choose apprenticeships as a fast-track to a great career and business growth.

The National Apprenticeship Service supports the delivery of apprenticeships in England. It offers free impartial advice and support to employers looking to recruit for the first time or expand their apprenticeship programmes. This includes simplifying the process of recruiting an apprentice through the support of employer focused teams. Call 0800 015 0600 or search for apprenticeships on GOV.UK to find out more.

Apprenticeships have doubled in funding terms from 2010-11.

[edit] About this article

This article was first published as a press release by BSRIA on March 4, 2019 and can be seen here. BSRIA is a non-profit distributing, member-based association, providing specialist services in construction and building services. More information at www.bsria.co.uk.

--BSRIA

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Apprenticeships levy.
• Architectural training.
• BSRIA call for more vocational training.
• Construction apprentice earnings.
• Construction apprenticeships.
• Construction Industry Training Board CITB.
• ECA 2018 Apprentice of the Year.
• Hourly rate.
• National vocational qualification.
• New apprentice levy funding model.
• Protection for apprenticeships.
• Skills.
• Tackling the construction skills shortage.
• The architectural profession.
• Wet trades.