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Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru |
National Assembly for Wales |
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Pwyllgor yr Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau |
Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee |
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Partneriaeth Sgiliau Rhanbarthol |
Regional Skills Partnerships |
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EIS(5) RSP08 |
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Ymateb gan Cadeirydd Clwstwr Sector Adeiladu, RLSP de-orllewin a Chanolbarth Cymru |
Evidence from Construction Sector Cluster Chair, South West and Mid Wales RLSP |
Data received from various sources have been questioned by the Construction Sector group as it did not conform to what was felt to be happening in reality.
Through the close working relationship forged with the regional BACH (British Association of Construction Heads) representatives more manageable data was gathered. Whilst this information may not have been 100% correct it did allow for better consultation within the cluster group as the information was presented in a more relevant form than that generated from the provider data bases.
Using this
collaboration between the provider group and the construction
group, which would not have been facilitated had it not been for
the RSP, clear debates have been forthcoming on the issues
affecting both employers and providers alike leading to a more
strategic approach to possible changes required.
All employers that attend the cluster group meeting do so on a voluntary basis and realise the potential that the RSP initiative has through the engagement and there is a feeling that the voice of the indigenous contractor may begin to be listened to. For each one volunteer employer there are many others who may not be able to attend due to the size of their business and the views expressed must be considered as those of the silent majority.
The Construction sector group benefits from industry wide engagement through three training groups, Dyfed Training group representing Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, CCTAL representing Carmarthenshire and the Swansea Bay Group representing Neath Port Talbot and City and County of Swansea. These training groups meet on regular basis to discuss issues relevant to training needs within the industry and represent in excess of 100 regional SME’s. The construction sector in the region is heavy reliant upon SME sector to support and deliver sustainable training for the industry.
In addition, the cluster group also benefits from the input of CYFLE Building Skills ltd the largest shared apprentice provider in the UK who currently employ 120 construction apprentices in the region and has a network of 200+ contractors who engage with the scheme. From this engagement the SME voice is heard on the training needs of the industry which are then fed through to the RSP board through the chair.
In addition to the training groups other sectors such as construction professionals and services contractors are invited to the cluster group meetings in order to ascertain the full breadth of requirements for the industry at large.
From this SME engagement it is felt that issues around training needs for the industry have been disproportionally influenced by Tier 1 contractors who do not employ trades people direct and offer little or no apprenticeship opportunities into the region. Whilst they may have targets to meet on project by project basis the requirements for the industry are long lasting and need the engagement of the regional SME’s on a long-term basis rather than one off opportunity offered by major contractor.
Using this engagement
skills gaps have been identified and actions taken on a regional
basis for the benefit of all rather than reliance on one
organisation self-interest.
The RLP influence on City and Growth deals will be crucial. These initiatives cannot be seen as simple stand-alone projects but need to be tied in to the long terms need of the industry locally.
There is a clear danger that construction projects delivered under the City and Growth deals will plough their own furrows on training outcomes under be-spoke community benefits targets which bear no resemblance to the need of the industry both in the short, medium and long term.
The SME led
construction cluster group feel that whilst they carry the major
burden of the delivery of training and apprenticeships on an annual
basis their voices have not been heard by both local and Welsh
Government. It is felt that the setting up of the RLP is a major
step forward and allows for the collaborative assessment of need
between employers and providers to the benefit of learners and the
industry.
The Construction sector cluster group identified early in the RLP engagement that one of the issues greatly affecting the efficiency of the education provision was the ‘commerciality’ that exists between providers in and around Wales.
By working collaboratively with the intelligence gathering on need linked with possible low volume required then specialist provision can be identified. The sector would then look to the RSP that this specialism is built upon within one deliverer and not allowed to be diluted through commercial opportunities that some may see from such an initiative.
Currently there is no
perceived gateway to hinder this type of approach and it is seen
that the RSP would be the ideal management structure to
ensure that this does not happen.
The foundational economy is important to the South West and Mid Wales region with a whole range of different skill sets required to support the various industries.
One of the key issues surrounding many discussions at cluster and other groups meeting is the key role that industry has in supporting other organisations within the regional economy. What threatens this engagement and ability to support is the access to construction projects which through Welsh Government policy seems to be migrating to one delivery organisation for all public sector contracts thus forcing many local regional companies away from the work place.
It has to be seen that mutual support and delivery is essential in order to support foundational economy and to build upon community wealth. Keeping the £ locally, keeps it in the region, keeps it in Wales. Current policy seems intent on ensuring the £ migrates out of Wales.
Many of the SME’s engaged within the cluster group are long established Welsh grown and continue to be based in Wales and their support of the Welsh language is high on the agenda.
This is promoted
within the provider group and with individuals employed to ensure
that the Welsh language is used effectively in the workplace.
The current small management team utilised to support the RSP is under pressure.
As the cluster groups get more engaged there is an expectation that further data on provision and need is produced. A clear example of this is the identification across all groups on the role of schools particularly the 14 – 16 age group has in feeding learners into HE system and also the role of the FE sector in the training agenda.
It is essential that data representing these areas is gathered and analysed to inform the needs of the industry.
Of particular
interest has been the 14 – 16-year group with young people
leaving school without basic requirements of numeracy and literacy
and not being ready for the workplace. This would seem to be an
issue across all sectors and would indicate a system failure that
requires the whole community to engage in order re-dress these
fundamental issues. Again, it is seen the RSP is the ideal
vehicle to facilitate this with the proper support rather than
setting up another initiative to deal with the issue.
Through the RSP engagement with the cluster group and others it is getting at first hand the needs and requirements of the industry from the ‘grass roots’ rather than third or fourth hand from commissioned reports prepared by external consultants.
A clear indication of this is that the industry would like to see more dexterous skills being introduced into the school curriculum accepting the fact that not all learners are going to be capable of achieving the highest qualifications but can still be a valued part of the community. Many learners are discarded early in the process as they may not be a positive contribution to performance indicators thus resulting in many not achieving literacy and numeracy standards and not prepared for the work place. It is considered that insufficient bias is given to developing dextrous skills in favour on academic achievement which is clearly not producing the right people for the work place.
Through the RSP the
cluster sees an opportunity to address this with a structured
approach involving both employers and providers as the issues
cannot be resolved in isolation.
The cluster group has some frustrations with the current organisational set up. The group is seeking a clear pathway for learners entering the industry and attempting to explain to parents and others of the differing organisations and providers highest the complexity of the current system.
The process should be set up for the benefit of the learner but currently seems to be organised to benefit the institutions engaged in the provision of training.
It would be
beneficial if the role of the RSP was extend to include the whole
learning pathway of 14- 19 in order to effectively scrutinise and
influence the provision of training within the region.
Through the engagement with the professional group within the cluster it is evident that they tend to access young people via the A’ level/ degree routes rather than the WBL route. There is frustration here as they have seen reduction in work experience take up and have lost many people after training to opportunities outside of the area with little assistance from FE/HE sector to assist.
Whilst all would sign
up to encouraging learners to attain their greatest potential this
cannot be done at the expense of under valuing or ignoring the
level 1-3 programmes which are essential to the construction
industry. There is a high percentage of school leavers who do so
without achieving grades A-C who need to be factored into the
higher-level skills agenda.
The Construction sector has seen the benefit of engagement through the RSP. It has positively supported the regional construction agenda under a difficult back drop of competition and buy in from various competing providers which the sector has already highlighted.
Probably the biggest step taken, whilst relatively small in scale, has been the bringing together of the provider group, at BACH level, and employer group in order to identify the industry needs and issues. Whilst all are in agreement as to what is required all are aware of the magnitude of the task in order to achieve and the hurdles that may be presented along the journey.
THE RSP are key in
ensuring that this continues over the coming years.
The major benefit that the RSP has brought to the regional construction sector is its instances and willingness to engage with local indigenous SME’s who have previously been ignored by other initiatives. The region is not blessed with major national contractors but does have many significant employers in the construction with long trading histories. These are the lifeblood of the industry in South West ad Mid Wales.
This may well be a different approach to that being taken within other RSP regions but Welsh Government have to accept that 99% of companies within Wales are SME’s all of whom have a major part to play in supporting the foundational economy and generating community wealth for their localities, region and Wales.
There has been a tendency that WG policy has been influenced by national and international construction companies at the expense of the indigenous provision evidenced by the publication of the recent notice for the Mutual Investment Model which will ensure a drop in regional GDP and remove opportunities for local contractors to trade with the subsequent reduction in training opportunities for learners. Evidence shows that from these management type contracts less 30% is spent within the locality with many sub-contractors travelling to sites from great distances due to existing agreements being in place.
Gathering these views as an industry has been a major success as they are not seen as an individual company complaining for its own benefit. These views expressed in this response are on behalf of both the construction and local communities. Training and skills development is reliant on the SME within Wales and the RSP has given them a voice to influence this agenda.
It is essential that the WG fully supports the initiative of the RLP as, over time, it will see the benefit of proper employer engagement within the region.
The impact on this
success can only be measured by the continuing development and
support given to the RSP.
The frustration of the industry largely lays with the disconnect between various provision within the 14 + agenda.
It is difficult to engage with schools as this is largely down to the willingness of individuals within the establishments to allow access to pupils to sell the industry and if access is allowed it is generally to those that are considered non-achievers.
The construction industry is a wide school with requirements for trades people to professional architects and engineers and can offer a career to all. The curriculum is not set up to encourage employer engagement and this must be addressed. The cluster and provider group are currently investigating ways to co-ordinate this aspect for the region which will be fed back to the RSP for support.
In order to
demonstrate the support for the RSP they must be allowed to manage
and administer grants for specially identified projects which could
be trialled on a regional basis before sharing as best practice
with other regions within Wales. The current system of having to
deal with provider consortia is cumbersome and ineffective.
Submitted by South West and Mid Wales Construction Sector Cluster Group chair, on behalf of:
- Cyfle Chair
- Dyfed Training Group Chair
- Swansea Bay Construction Support Group Chair
- Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Limited Chair
- ECA Regional Manager