Date of article: 05/06/2007
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More than 12,000 new recruits were lost by the industry last year because of a lack of firms taking on apprentices.
So far 6,000 young people have passed their apprenticeship qualification tests this year but cannot yet find a contractor to employ them.
Training body ConstructionSkills is now appealing to the industry to free up spaces for apprentices or face losing a whole generation of workers. Max Hamps, director of ConstructionSkills Apprenticeship, said: "There are hundreds of quality young people on our books who have already passed on our books who have already passed selection tests and are eager to work in the industry.
"Unfortunately many firms still think taking on an apprentice is costly or time consuming, or that dropout rates are high, but over 70 per cent, ConstructionSkills apprentices have some of the best completion rates in the industry and we are committed to finding the right apprentice to suit each construction business."
Such cynicism was expressed by one regional contracting boss. He said: "We haven't had great experiences with ConstructionSkills and apprentices. We've found that the people we took on weren't very motivated or the ones that were didn't stay with us very long."
ConstructionSkills has now improved the system by introducing Programme Led Apprenticeships.
This approach cuts down the time contractors have to commit to apprentices by allowing young people to complete a fulltime construction course at college before completing the practical aspects required to reach NVQ level 2 via a 12-month placement with an employer.
Contractors backing the call for more apprenticeship places include north-east based general builder and refurbishment specialist P Whelan.
Construction director Bob Warren said: "I started at P Whelan 27 years ago and I've seen apprentices grow from inexperienced trainess to highly skilled workers. They are the lifeblood of the company and have helped us in the highest possible standards.
"Thorough training is very important to us. Skilled tradespeople are not always easy to come to come by, so we need to develop our own. We also want to help sustain the construction industry and add to the pool of qualified workers. Taking on apprentices has given us a stable, loyal and dedicated workforce and has got us where we are."
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