Bovis Lend Lease UK - Bovis Lend Lease UK announces new approach
to solving the skills shortage
Bovis Lend Lease UK is setting out to address the
growing skills shortage in the construction industry
with the establishment of a not-for-profit company, Be
Onsite. Sponsored by Bovis Lend Lease UK, the
organisation aims to offer on-site industry specific
training and employment.
Be Onsite has been set-up with support from Bovis Lend
Lease’s supply chain, in partnership with Jobcentre
Plus, Construction Skills, the London Development Agency
and the Learning and Skills Council.
Construction Skills estimates over 85,000 new entrants
per year are needed within the UK construction industry*
and many of these entrants will need new skills with an
increasing focus on new prefabricated building
techniques, smart buildings, sustainable development and
environmental technologies.
A key objective for the new organisation is to work
hand-in-glove with the supply chain to map the exact
skills that are needed and then identify how these
skills will be provided through specialist accredited
training providers, giving companies a direct
opportunity to shape learning provision. Be Onsite will
pay particular attention to the skills gaps where no
specific training currently exists. It will also provide
a co-ordinated single point of contact for access to
local labour.
Val Lowman Head of Community Development for Bovis Lend
Lease is also the Managing Director of Be Onsite. She
said: “Small firms with fewer than 14 workers represent
94% of the construction industry and employ 39% of all
workers. These firms need all the help they can get. We
aim for Be Onsite to eventually grow so that it can
offer trainees to the construction industry across the
country. This is a long-term solution to the issues of
skills shortages and inner city unemployment.”
Murray Coleman, Chief Executive of Bovis Lend Lease UK
said, “The idea of Be Onsite is modelled on the job
shops which we have been operating on most of our major
construction sites over the past 12 years. This linkage
of local people to construction training and jobs has
resulted in almost 10,000 people finding construction
employment, and a further 11,000 people going into
retail jobs.
“It’s a great concept because it helps long term
unemployed people and overcomes barriers to employment;
the local community benefits because the skilled trades
people remain in the local area long after the
construction project has finished; and the construction
industry can fill some of the many vacancies attributed
to the current skills shortage.”
Lesley Strathie, Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus said,
“Jobcentre Plus values highly the close and effective
working relationship developed with Bovis Lend Lease
over a number of years. The relationship provides our
disadvantaged customers with genuine opportunities to
secure permanent employment and job related training in
a sector of the economy that is set to remain buoyant
for the foreseeable future.”
Be Onsite will begin its first pilot scheme later this
year.
Email:
Belinda.luton@eu.bovislendlease.com
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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