Construction activity in the South West
region involves new-build development (including currently some massive
regeneration projects) as well as refurbishment and the preservation of one of
the richest heritages of historic buildings. Yet contractors and developers are
finding that regionally, as well as nationally, there is a shortage of both
skilled construction workers and construction training capacity.
Colleges now face the challenge of meeting
the needs of the construction industry for a better skilled workforce as well
as responding to the growing importance of sustainability issues for the
sector. Sustainability must be embraced by construction trainers so that it
becomes a part of mainstream thinking, building on the current sustainability
expertise and examples of good practice in the region. The shortage of
specialist craftspeople, to service the heritage sector, also presents
opportunities to develop new courses (eg thatching, cob-walling). By addressing
the construction skills deficit now we avoid paying for it later. Learning
organisations can set an example to other sectors by examining their own
policies on new development to assess relative sustainability.
General:
- Is sustainability awareness-raising part of your
organisation’s staff induction and development policy? (eg waste recycling
schemes, encouraging car-sharing)
If you deliver construction training:
- Does the training you provide take account of the visual
and environmental impact of developments as well as the effects on local
communities?
- Does the training address the sustainability of using
and transporting local materials and the use of traditional methods? (eg
dry-stone walling, wood-framing)
- Do you promote careers in construction to the local
labour force (including women, disabled students, ethnic minority students,
older learners) - highlighting the whole range of possibilities within the
industry? (eg building, architecture, heritage)
If you commission buildings:
- Is sustainability part of your own estates policy and
contracting rationale when selecting architects/developers for a project?
- Are your contractors recruiting locally and training
their workforce in sustainability skills?
If you plan or construct buildings:
- Do you take account of sustainability, including
recruiting local labour where possible and ensuring that your workers are
qualified and engaged in training?
- Are your employees trained in:
- Green building principles/sustainable construction?
- Construction techniques relevant to the heritage sectors?
- Sustainable building practices (eg waste recycling,
energy conservation, local sourcing) and ‘sustainability awareness’ will soon
be quality criteria for the industry
- By implementing sustainability now you will be ahead of
Government legislation
- Skilled staff, trained in sustainable practices, are
more likely to approach problem-solving creatively and to take account of
‘futurity issues’ - just the staff you need to be successful!
- Training with wide career-progression opportunities will
be attractive to all ages and abilities
- The maintenance and development of a high class built
environment in the South West will support other industries such as travel and
tourism
- Raising local skill levels reduces unemployment and
encourages people to stay in their communities
- Somerset College of Arts and Technology and other
Somerset colleges are working with the Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development
to embed sustainability into construction training
- Plymouth College of FE and Filton College Bristol have
new buildings which have ‘designed-in’ ‘green’ principles. Both colleges are
active in sustainability education though the Econet
- Weymouth College has a well-established stone-masonry
course which trains students who work on cathedrals and other important
historic buildings all over the UK and abroad
- Filton Econet, tel: 0117 9092260, email: info@filtoneconet.co.uk
- Construction Industry Training Board (www.citb.org.uk),
SW area office tel: 01392 444900
- Learndirect (www.learndirect.co.uk), tel: 0800 100 900
for info on local courses
- Learning and Skills Council (www.lsc.gov.uk), tel: 0870
9006800 (general helpline)
- Regional Development Agency, tel: 01392 214747
- The Regional Assembly, tel: 01823 270101 for Local
Authority and council contact info
- The Create Centre, Bristol - educational resource
including library on sustainable construction
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