Seddon has warned that the government’s push to give technical education equal status with academic routes will only succeed if construction creates enough apprenticeship places for the young people it inspires.
Writing in PBC Today, Seddon owner and director Nicola Hodkinson welcomed proposals to give pupils access to technical education from age 14 and to recognise schools for preparing young people for work. But she said the industry’s skills challenge “cannot be solved in the classroom alone”.
Interest is not the problem. Seddon gets around 100 applications for every apprenticeship place it offers, as young people look to earn while they learn and avoid university debt. Nicola said many are being lost because there aren’t enough places.
A good apprenticeship needs experienced mentors, real time on site, experience across different stages of a project, and an employer committed for several years. Tight margins, uncertain pipelines and heavy use of subcontracted labour make that difficult to promise, especially for smaller firms.
To close the gap, Nicola called for:
- More flexible skills funding, and practical help for SMEs with the cost and paperwork of employing apprentices
- Modular apprenticeships, so specialist firms can train in their own area while apprentices gain wider experience elsewhere
- Closer working between contractors, clients, colleges and training providers, so training follows the work in housing, infrastructure, retrofit and low-carbon construction
- Procurement that gives social value and skills commitments real weight, reflects the cost of delivering them, and gives SMEs clearer sight of upcoming work
She welcomed the government’s move to put more weight on jobs, skills and apprenticeships in public contracts, provided it leads to real training rather than more reporting.
Nicola said success should be measured by how many young people go from interest into quality apprenticeships, complete them and build lasting careers. Inspiring the next generation is vital, “but we need to be ready for them when they walk through those doors.”2
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