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CITB Supports Construction Sector With £1.2m Training Investment
The construction sector could benefit from more workers with better skills as £1.2 million is being invested into housebuilding training.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has revealed the money will go towards funding two projects that will develop skills in offsite construction.
This money will enable free access to standardised, innovative and blended learning materials. It will also allow trainers in education and the industry to improve their skills in offsite construction, while offering an outreach programme for secondary schools to provide more information about different career opportunities in construction.
CITB strategy and policy director Steve Radley said: “Offsite construction creates a range of exciting new skills needs and opportunities, including in assembly, digital technologies and installation. We’re looking to build these into training at both entry level and also to enable upskilling within the industry, because getting this right can mean a more multi-skilled, diverse and productive workforce.”
Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), together with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), is leading the projects, which will boost the knowledge of manufacturing and assembling construction components before their installation onsite.
Improving offsite construction can boost productivity when it comes to building, resulting in shorter timeframes and lower costs for developers. This, therefore, will directly impact construction workers familiar with dealing with sheet metal flashings, as their timescales could be reduced.
As well as providing upskilling programmes and teaching support, there will also be better classroom materials to increase the number of people with knowledge and skills in this part of the construction industry.
This investment from the CITB could be a much-needed boost to the industry, after the latest construction purchasing managers index (PMI) from HIS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply revealed the sector suffered a contraction last month.