How CITB Cymru Wales works with FE
Wales Funding Model
CITB Cymru Wales has appointed a consortium led by The University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) as the preferred bidder to develop a new approach to training for the construction industry in Wales.
CITB Cymru Wales published plans in March to invest up to £5m in a new scheme. A number of quality bids were received with the UWTSD led consortium achieving the highest score in the bidding process. UWTSD will now work with CITB on the details of the initiative, which will deliver training to meet construction employer needs throughout Wales.
Supporting partners of the UWTSD consortium include, Building Research Establishment (BRE), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) , City & County of Swansea Council, Coleg Cambria, Coleg Ceredigion, Coleg Sir Gâr, Coleg y Cymoedd, Cyfle Building Skills, Tidal Lagoon Power ltd.
This exciting new initiative will offer training opportunities for individuals and construction companies throughout Wales.
Sector Qualification Advisory Panel
CITB Cymru Wales currently operates the Sector Qualification Advisory Panel for Construction (SQAP). The SQAP brings together employers, learners, awarding organisation and providers to facilitate a forum to oversee the decisions relating to vocational construction qualifications eligible for Welsh Government funding in Wales in the Sector Subject Area of Construction, Planning and the Built Environment.
The current SQAP includes representatives from Coleg Sir Gar, Grwp Llandrillo-Menai, Grwp NPTC and Coleg y Cymoedd.
CITB’s Work-Based Learning Provision
CITB Cymru Wales sub-contracts with every college that delivers construction provision in Wales and are proud of our partnership arrangements to the benefit of both parties. Counting any learner that attended college in 2014, including those that finished their programme in June and those that started in September, we have 1641 learners attending off-site training at a college. This includes the following colleges:
o Bridgend College
o Cardiff and Vale College
o Coleg Cambria
o Coleg Ceredigion
o Coleg Gwent
o Coleg Sir Gar
o Coleg y Cymoedd
o Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
o NPTC Group
o The College Merthyr Tydfil
o Pembrokeshire College
British Association of Construction Heads
The British Association of Construction Heads (BACH) is an association formed largely from those managing and delivering the construction curriculum from pre-apprenticeship to post graduate level. CITB has a long standing positive relationship with BACH Wales looking at Curriculum development and planning solutions to qualification challenges and enhancement projects such as Essential Skills.
CITB attends all BACH meetings with allocated time to update colleges on apprenticeship performance, work-based learning developments and qualification changes. CITB is also advising BACH on industry needs and BACH and Colegau Cymru jointly chair a strategic group namely Built Environment Strategic Advisory Group (BESAG) which strategically advises colleges and associated work-based learning providers on changes in provision and focus as requested by industry and Welsh Government.
The BESAG group has also been tasked to respond to the ESTYN thematic report on construction and the built environment and has subsequently made recommendations to colleges on changing quality related practice.
CITB and BACH have recently launched a jointly funded project employing a lead construction lecturer with the aim of sharing best practice across colleges and developing a website for best practice examples. The All In It Together project will deliver on the recommendations set out in the Estyn Remit Report Training for Construction, Planning and the Built Environment.
This will include establishing a network of Excellence Mentors (EMs) within the field of vocational education and training (VET) in order to support, guide and enhance the quality of all construction provision in Wales.
ERASMUS+
The Erasmus+ programme offers opportunities for students enrolled on apprenticeships and vocational training to study abroad as part of their programme. CITB Cymru Wales is working with Colegau Cymru as part of the Wales Steering Group on European Initiatives in Vocational Education and Training (VET) to examine how these opportunities can be maximised for the benefit of learners, employers and education providers.
Find out more
For further information, please contact our Welsh Public Affairs Officer, Joshua Miles, by email at joshua.miles@citb.co.uk or by calling 07557136563.