VIDEO | Will Burnham’s technical education crusade mark a step change for construction?

The Prime Minister wants to give young people more options when it comes to further education and has promised to place as much emphasis on “hard hats as graduation caps”, but will the plan be the solution to construction’s skills crisis? This was the topic of discussion at a recent roundtable hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction.

Senior leaders across both construction and skills at a recent roundtable discussion hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction in partnership with Place North West saw the benefits of Burnham’s approach but were wary about how it might be implemented.

Find out more by watching the video at the top of this page, or on the Place Media Group YouTube channel.

Key takeaways

• Burnham’s intentions are noble. Parity between technical and academic education is a positive thing for the industry and the economy as a whole
• The skills challenge for technical professions like construction is not necessarily a lack of desire from young people to work in the sector but a dearth of jobs suitable for people with the level of qualifications colleges currently provide. The gap between the end of education and the start of employment is currently a chasm.
• Students need more than technical qualifications to succeed in construction. They must be taught the life skills required to thrive in a fast-paced, high-risk environment.
• In order for young people to really benefit from Burnham’s change in approach, more educators with the required skills and expertise will need to be recruited and trained.
• The policy thrust will only succeed if employers effectively engage with the education sector to outline their skills requirements, shape the curriculum, and offer opportunities at the end of the process. Combined authorities will play a key role as facilitators in this space.
• Simpler, smoother pathways from education into employment through strong partnerships between schools and employers are crucial to realising Burnham’s vision.

Participants

• Matty Pendergast, director of capital projects, University of Salford
• Alun Francis, chief executive, Blackpool and the Fylde College
• Joanna Hall, director, Wigan & Leigh College
• Gill Roberts, senior social value manager, Morgan Sindall Construction
• Emma Ratcliffe, senior business development and framework manager Morgan Sindall Construction
• Paul Amann, principal officer for employment and skills, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
• Renee Preston, chief executive, Gallaway Construction
• Kirsty Evans, executive director of education and training, CITB
• Matt Weir, academy programme manager, PLACED
• Olivia Saunders, project manager, Baker Dearing Educational Trust
• Chair: Dan Whelan, deputy editor of Place North West

To learn more about Morgan Sindall Construction, visit morgansindallconstruction.com