New training centre celebrates successful first course

A new training centre in North Wales has successfully trained its first cohort of scaffolders.

The Busnes@LlandrilloMenai’s Centre for Infrastructure, Skills and Technology (CIST) at Llangefni, Anglesey held the scaffolding course recently, delivered by Simian Risk Management and with support for learners from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The £2.1 million facility was supported by the Welsh Government Energy Island funding, and now allows learners in North Wales to take a scaffolding course locally rather than having to travel to the North West or West Midlands of England.

Among those completing the course as the first step to his career as a scaffolder was Kyle O'Connor, from Anglesey Scaffolding Company Ltd.

He said: “I really enjoyed the course, and the course tutor has been excellent throughout, with friendly staff at the centre. The facilities for scaffolding training at CIST are fantastic, and it is great see it based on Anglesey which provides opportunities for scaffolders to be trained locally rather than having to travel several hundred miles.”

The completion of the first course comes as a welcome boost for Welsh construction, which is set to bounce back strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic with a 4.1% annual growth in work.

To meet this boon, Welsh construction will need an additional 9,250 workers by 2025, on top of the forecast staff growth of 0.7% - an extra 1,850 workers per year.

CITB Wales’ Engagement Director Mark Bodger said:

“The early success of this centre provides a real boost for Welsh construction, and shows how we’re working with our partners to help the industry in Wales meet its recruitment needs to hit its ambitious targets and help lead the way in Britain’s post-Covid economic recovery. We look forward to seeing further successes from Busnes@LlandrilloMenai’s CIST Centre, Llangefni, complemented by the investment CITB is making into training hubs across Wales to help convince more people that construction is the right sector for them to enjoy a rewarding career in.”

CITB has invested £3.6 million in four learning hubs across Wales, working in partnership with Kier, Cardiff Council, Procure Plus and Cyfle Building Skills.

Over the next three years of the programme, hubs providing coverage in south east, south west and north Wales will deliver over 5,200 onsite experience placements, enabling over 2,000 people to become employment and site-ready before being linked directly to local employers with construction job vacancies.

The hubs are targeting at least 875 people to enter into sustained employment. People who do not immediately secure employment through their hub will continue to receive support and signposting and will have gained the skills needed to pursue a career in construction and increase their employability.

In Wales, major projects driving growth over the next few years include the £750 million South Wales Metro and the £336 million investment from Welsh Water this year, part of the organisation’s £2.3 billion investment being made by 2025.

Ends

Notes to editors

Remote interview opportunities are available upon request.

The course delivered was the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme Tube and Fitting Part 1 course.

CITB works with industry and government to accurately capture the sector’s needs, fund training, improve standards and ensure the industry has the workforce it needs. It is paid for by a levy on the construction industry itself. CITB is an arm’s-length body of the Department for Education.

• The annual recruitment requirement for Wales is 1.6%, meaning an extra 9,250 new workers are needed by 2025
• 2020 saw Welsh output drop by 14% from 2019
• Growth in the amount of work forecast this year 4.1%, slightly below the UK average of 4.4%
• Private housing has the fastest forecast growth, and is expected to return to pre-Covid levels by 2023
• The Welsh construction workforce has a forecast annual growth of 0.7%, slightly below the UK average of 1%
• The 2020 workforce of 114,000 will need to grow to 118,500 by the end of 2025
• The level of average recruitment in Wales is 1.6%, the same as the UK
• Welsh construction will need to attract an additional 1,850 workers per year by the end of 2025
  • The above statistics are from CITB’s CSN report, due to be published last week
• 93% of Welsh firms remain operational, compared to 81% in Scotland and 72% in England
• Half of Welsh employers say their orders are up, with only 14% recording a reduction, compared to a GB average of a 46% rise and 20% drop
• Only 14% of Welsh firms are still using furlough, compared to 28% of English and 23% of Scottish
• Just 8% of Welsh businesses expect to make redundancies, compared to 28% in England
• 18% of Welsh businesses will offer more training, and just 8% will offer less
• Some 16% of Welsh forms plan to start apprenticeships, down from 22% pre-Covid
  • The above statistics are from CITB’s Nations’ reports, published last month