02/04/2003

Major initiative to qualify construction workers

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have launched a joint initiative to increase the number of qualified workers in the UK construction industry.

The £9 million LSC funded project, which will initially run in ten areas, will assess and qualify 10,000 construction employees through the CITB’s On-site Assessment and Training (OSAT) programme by July 2004.

The pilot will then be expanded, to train and assess much higher numbers over the next five years. The project forms a key element in the CITB’s Qualifying the Workforce campaign which aims to improve standards and meet the industry’s target of a fully qualified workforce by 2010.

The project will focus on the On-Site Assessment and Training of experienced construction industry employees aged over 25 to NVQ Level 2 or Level 3. To achieve this it will provide an extra 275 assessors. The £9 million initiative will fund the development of a series of regional networks comprising CITB OSAT advisors, local LSCs, local colleges, training providers and employers tasked with delivering on-site assessment and training quickly and effectively.

Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of CITB comments: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Learning and Skills Council in helping to up-skill the industry. We believe the industry will welcome the £9million funding from the LSC for on-site assessment and training. The project forms a key element in the industry’s Qualifying the Workforce campaign which aims to improve standards and further professionalise the industry.”

Employers wishing to take advantage of this project should contact their local CITB Office or the OSAT helpline 01485 577999.

(CL)

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