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News Release from: Bovis Lend Lease | Subject: Be Onsite
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 10 July 2007
Bovis Lend Lease UK on skills shortage
Bovis Lend Lease UK to address the growing skills shortage in construction industry with 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, ConstructionSkills, the London Development Agency and the Learning and Skills Council
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 15 Jun 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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ConstructionSkills 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.
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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 tradespeople 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.
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