Construction projects depend on the
availability of a skilled workforce and employment of local people in these
projects plays an important part in protecting and strengthening the local
economy. Local Labour in Construction aims to increase the number of local
people working on construction sites, especially in areas where local people
might otherwise miss out on construction jobs created by such opportunities.
Clients and developers can make a difference by committing to local labour and
requesting their contractors do likewise. Clients and developers should be
asking contractors whether they have addressed the following points when
tendering for a contract:
- Are local operatives encouraged to register with the
Construction Skills Certification Scheme?
- Are trainees employed in accordance with the National
Working Rule Agreement for the building and civil engineering industry?
- Has a register been compiled, listing any
sub-contractors that have been employed from outside the area stating the
reasons for not employing a local sub-contractor?
- To what extent are ‘small works’ identified, such as
clearance, basic landscaping, maintenance and other peripheral aspects of the
main contract, which might be carried out by community based initiatives to
assist in the creation of new employment opportunities or new businesses?
- Is there a clearly stated equal opportunities policy, to
ensure that no job applicant or existing employee is treated less favourably on
the grounds of sex, race, disability, religious belief, or by any other
requirement which cannot be shown to be justifiable?
- To what extent has a detailed analysis of the work
packages been undertaken to identify the maximum number of training places
which could be integrated into the project?
- Income of local people increased, especially those in greatest need
- Skill levels and employability of local people improved
- Greater sense of local ownership and pride in the project
- Local economy benefits from circulation of income earned on site
- Penny Jones, ON-SITE, Bristol, Bordeaux Quay, Canons Road, Bristol BS1 5UH, Tel: 0117 9349455
- Stephanie Ward, SEECON, Eastleigh Business Centre, Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, SO50 9FD, Tel. 01703 615367
- Local college and training providers - Tel: Learndirect 0800 100 900 for more info
- South West Regional Development Agency, Tel: 01392 214747
- Employment Service
- Construction Industry Training Board (www.citb.org.uk), Tel: 01392 444900
- Learning and Skills Councils
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