Women, long-term unemployed and ex-military all being courted by new fund

Apprentices

The Construction Industry Training Board has unveiled a 拢5m fund to help under-represented groups into the construction industry.

Called Pathways into Construction, it is designed to get employers in front of groups who traditionally don鈥檛 enter construction.

This includes the long-term unemployed, women of all ages and full-time learners who study construction but struggle to join the industry.

CITB said it will consider applications from organisations that work with one or more of five groups.

These also include people who are not in education, training or work and people who left the military at least 12 months ago.

Stephen Cole, head of careers strategy at CITB, said: 鈥淭he fund will widen employers鈥� pool of domestic talent, diversify the industry and increase opportunities for those on the margins of construction, improving social mobility.鈥�

The CITB said the fund had been launched following 鈥渆xtensive research鈥� into critical training and employment issues in the sector.

The Construction Leadership Council backed the announcement, with its skills lead, Mace boss Mark Reynolds, adding: 鈥淭his new funding will have a huge impact.鈥�

Speaking at a Construction Leadership Council event about the sector deal last week, Reynolds called on the industry to step up in order to improve its image and increase workforce diversity.

 

 

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