Latest Updates
Employers
Constructing Futures is developing a programme of commercial training courses – We need local construction employers to tell us about their skills and training requirements. Click here for further details (480kb)
Work ready, pre-apprenticeship trained First Footings leavers, now available to start work! - click here for further details
No matter how large or small your business, Constructing Futures can provide a number of useful services that can help your business to grow and keep you up to date with important industry changes.
Just click on the links below to find out more.
- Apprentices
- Use Workplace Experience Programmes to help you find the right staff for your company
- Learn more about getting the right training and qualifications for your current workforce
- Make sure you know all about CIS, the Construction Industry Scheme
- Discover the essential support services that could help make running your business easier
- Earn more by becoming an On-Site Assessor
- Give something back, make sure your skills are passed on to the next generation by becoming a college tutor
- Let us keep you up to date with what's happening here in Brighton and Hove, and right across Sussex
- Make sure you have the latest Health and Safety information
- Supporting First Footings with Sponsorship and Donations
Apprentices
- Want to expand your business?
- Want to pass on your skills to others?
- Want to develop your work force?
- Want time to manage your business better?
- Want bigger and better contracts?
If the answer to any of these is YES then think about taking on a Construction Apprentice.
Apprentices can:
- Make your organisation more effective, competent, productive and competitive
- Avoid skills shortages
By taking on apprentices you acquire the specialist skills that you will need for the future. As a result of their training, the apprentices will be more motivated and eager to learn. Responsibility will make them feel more valued and therefore more loyal in the long term.
Employers can:
- Register both new and current employees for a construction apprenticeship providing they are between 16 and 24 at the start of the training
- Receive a grant of up to £8000 over 3 years to offset the employment costs
What are apprenticeships?
- Work-based training programmes designed for people aged 16-24 at the start
- Training programmes with content developed by the construction industry itself and therefore genuinely understanding and reflecting your needs
Apprentices gain National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ’s) proving that the industry standards of work have been met. These are supported by technical certificates and key skills in:
- Communication
- Numeracy
- Employment rights and responsibilities
- Various occupational requirements where applicable (e.g. abrasive wheels certificate for bricklayers)
Apprentices also obtain a free Construction Skills Certification Scheme Card (CSCS) upon completion of NVQ Level 2. These cards are becoming industry benchmarks for achievement and may play an essential part in the awarding of future contracts.
What’s in it for you?
The total grant from the CITB Construction Skills Modern Apprenticeships Scheme is £8,000 across 3 years (2005 figure). This money is paid quarterly throughout the 3-year scheme.
If an apprentice starts on the scheme through the CITB managing agency, there are no college fees payable and other financial support opportunities are available such as an allowance for subsistence and local travel for attendance at college.
Other organisations also operate a Modern apprenticeship scheme. These are:
- Greater Brighton Construction Training (GBCT)
- Work Based Learning (WBL) at local colleges
- City Work-Based Learning Agency
Prepare your company to obtain the qualified workforce to be part of the £2.2 billion construction spend in the Brighton area over the next 8 years.
There’s a huge future in the construction industry!
Are you ready?
To offer an apprenticeship you must be able to:
- Provide your apprentice with a wide range of craft related work specific to your trade
- Give your apprentices an induction into their role and provide on-the-job training
- Be responsible for the wages of the apprentices
- Support and guide your apprentice with the gathering of information to verify that standards have been met with the relevant college assessor
- Release your apprentice to attend off-the-job training and various tests including Health & Safety
GO!
For further help and information, contact:
Constructing Futures: 01273 667765
Mary Sanger at CITB Construction Skills: 02380 623823
City College Brighton & Hove
Work Based Learning: 01273 667788 Ext 714
Greater Brighton Construction Training: 01273 410066
City Work-Based Learning Agency: 01273 739028
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I take on an apprentice? What’s in it for me?
- To pass on your skills and knowledge to local young people and to help create a local workforce. It will make your organisation more efficient, productive and competitive. It will help you to keep your staff, avoid skills gaps in your workforce and motivate you and your existing staff.
How much does an apprentice cost?
- You will need to pay your apprentice just like any other employee. Once you have employed an apprentice who is between 16 and 19 years old and they are studying an NVQ at college, it will only cost you the loss of their labour when they attend college.
Who pays for training apprentices?
- If the apprentice is 16,17 or 18 years old, the Leaning and Skills Council will pay the training provider 100% of the cost of the qualification.
For 16-25 year olds, you may be able to receive support from CITB Construction Skills Grants to help you provide the training your apprentice needs. CITB Construction Skills can be contacted on 02380 623823 or 02380 620505 if you need more information.
The Learning and Skills Council can pay 75% of the cost of the training for 19-25 year olds but as an employer, you may be expected to contribute 25% of that.
Over 25’s can access free of charge NVQ Level 2 training provided they have no previous qualifications.
What about insurance?
- All you need to have is up-to-date public and employers’ liability insurance.
What happens if the apprentice is no good?
- It may be a good idea for you to give the apprentice a trial period to see if they are suitable for your company. If the apprentice is unsuitable, then you need to speak immediately to the training provider or the managing agent you contracted with or are working with.
Who sets up the apprenticeship?
- The CITB – Construction Skills managing agent or training provider will set up the apprenticeship.
What else am I responsible for?
- Ensuring that what the apprentice is learning on the job fits the curriculum of the course they are studying – so that they gain the relevant experience and skill. Providing a safe work environment for the apprentice.
CITB – Construction Skills can help with any further questions you have on 02380 623823 (Mary Sanger) or 02380 620505.
Use Workplace Experience Programmes to make sure that you find the right staff for your company
At present, the construction industry only provides about 2% of all work placements in the UK. Many employers are unwilling to risk taking on inexperienced labourers, and with good reason. Small businesses rely on hard-working, dedicated staff, and they aren't always easy to find.
But if employers stop accepting work placements, hundreds of young and enthusiastic people will miss out on gaining valuable experience of working in the construction industry. Experience which can help them decide which courses or apprenticeships to apply to.
Workplace Experience Programmes are a great way of encouraging the right people to get involved in the construction industry - and they're also invaluable for employers too.
Employer Benefits
- Workplace Experience Programmes let you find new employees without taking risks. The only young people eligible for Workplace Experience Programmes will be those responsible and hard-working enough to have successfully completed the training programme at First Footings, a construction college run by City College Brighton and Hove. Find out more about First Footings.
- Workplace Experience Programmes will give young people an accurate idea of what the job involves. That way, if you decide to take them on as an apprentice in the future, you can be sure that they already understand the responsibilities they're taking on.
- Being involved will raise your profile as a local employer. It will also raise the overall profile of the construction industry in Brighton and Hove and across Sussex.
- Workplace Experience Programmes can make your company safer and more efficient. When training a young person you and your staff will need to lead by example. The better example you all set, the more professional and safety-conscious the whole company becomes.
- And finally, you will be contributing to the education of a young person. The experience a Work Experience participant will gain during their time with you could greatly improve their chances of finding a job in the future.
If you are interested in offering work placements, there are a few things you'll need to think about first.
- Have you identified the opportunities within your company? Finding a suitable candidate will be much easier if you have a clear idea of what skills you can pass on to young people. It also helps if you know what kind of labour you need.
- Are you and your team prepared? Your staff should understand their responsibilities before the placement begins. Being a mentor requires preparation, and you must be willing to spend time making sure everyone is ready in advance.
- Do you have all the right insurance? Before you can take on a young person, you must ensure that all the required insurance policies are in place, including public and employee liability insurance.
Before anything is set in stone, you get to hold a pre-placement meeting with the young person and the provider to make sure the candidate will fit in with both you and your team.
The provider will also need to do an on-site health and safety check.
Then all you have to do is:
- Show the young person where the Fire Exits are.
- Show them where the facilities are.
- Identify any Health and Safety risks they need to know about.
- Show them what to do in the event of a fire.
Want to find out more?
To get involved or to find out more, simply contact us.
Learn more about getting the right training and qualifications for your current workforce
Qualifications make it easier to weed out the cowboy builders whose shoddy workmanship gives everyone in the construction industry a bad name. If you and your staff can prove that you have the skills and experience to do the job better than anyone else, you stand to benefit more from the £2.5 billion construction spend that will take place in Brighton over the next decade.
Of course, if you've been in the industry for years and have learnt what you know on-the-job, then the idea of studying what you already know is hardly appealing. But that's where On-Site Assessment and Training can really come in useful.
What is On-Site Assessment and TrainingOn-site Assessment and Training (OSAT) is a way for experienced workers to get the qualifications they need to prove they can do the job. Instead of losing money by taking time off to go to college, an assessor comes to observe your staff while they work. Each individual will develop a portfolio of evidence to prove what skills they have, then they can turn their skills and experience into a nationally recognised qualification like an NVQ.
Having these qualifications also means that you and your employees will be eligible for a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.
What is the Construction Skills Certification Scheme?
By 2010 you will not be allowed to work on a site unless you can prove your skills and qualifications beforehand.
A range of card schemes have been introduced, which provide employers, workers and contractors with a way of proving their expertise.
Launched nearly ten years ago, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is fast becoming the industry standard.
CSCS cards cover most of the construction trades, although there are different schemes for plant operators, scaffolders, demolition operatives, heating and venting operatives, electricians and plumbers.
A CSCS card lists the holder's qualifications and is valid for either three or five years.
Further information about OSAT and CSCS
To find out more about OSAT, visit the CITB Construction Skills website.
Here you will find everything you will need to know, including detailed information about NVQs, the OSAT Code of Practice, benefits, availability, costs, grants and how to apply.
CITB also offer two downloadable OSAT guides in PDF format, which are perfect for printing and photocopying.
To find out more about the CSCS scheme, click here.
As well as news and information about the scheme, the CSCS website includes a Frequently Asked Questions section. You can also request an application pack, download a PDF of the latest scheme booklet, or make an enquiry.
Remember
- On Site Assessment Training will help you and your staff get hold of CSCS cards quickly and easily.
- The system is designed to take into account existing skills, so your workers only train towards the things they don't yet know how to do.
- OSAT lets you and your staff keep working, because everything is carried out on site.
- Being assessed on-site instead of in the classroom makes things easier for employees who find reading or writing difficult.
- After completing the assessment, you will be able to prove your skills and qualifications to potential customers.
- And, best of all, OSAT produces more qualified and competent employees, who do the job better, complete work faster, have fewer accidents, and waste less time correcting mistakes.
Many companies are already seeing the benefits of OSAT in their workplace. Don't get left behind, visit the CITB Construction Skills website to learn more.
Make sure you know all about CIS, the Construction Industry Scheme
CIS is the tax system for the construction industry. As an employer it is very important that you are up to date with the relevant paperwork as published by the Inland Revenue, all of which can be found at your local Tax Office.
The scheme applies to almost all companies, partnerships and self-employed individuals, so no matter how large or small your business is, you can't afford to be left behind when it comes to CIS.
Make sure you have the latest Health and Safety information. (PDF 104kb)
It includes background information about the scheme, how it works and who it applies to. There is also a frequently asked questions section, CIS news updates and an online copy of the Construction Industry Scheme manual.
If you need more information, you should contact your local Tax Office.
Discover the essential support services that could help make running your business easier
Keeping up to date with the ever-changing world of business isn't always easy. Fortunately there are a whole host of agencies out there designed to help you. It doesn't matter whether you are self-employed or the head of your own company, you're sure to find the guidance you need to help make your business more efficient, more lucrative and more competitive than ever before.
Business support agencies
Just click on the name of the website you would like to visit:
Brighton and Hove City Council
The City Council website Business pages have links to many useful support agencies, designed to help local businesses of all sizes.
If you're looking to expand or improve your business, the Enterprise Agency is an essential source of information and support.
This independent, not-for-profits organisation can provide expert business advice and training for free or at heavily reduced prices; fantastic networking opportunities where employers in the construction industry to meet one another; and links to their partner organisations.
The CITB ConstructionSkills website is full of useful information about training and learning, apprenticeships, health and safety, grants and card schemes such as CSCS.
Earn more by becoming an On-Site Assessor
There are plenty of good reasons why you might want to retrain as an Assessor.
Perhaps you're tired of working outdoors but aren't yet ready to retire yet. Maybe you've started suffering health problems and need a change of pace. Perhaps you want to help the future of the industry by putting all the knowledge and experience you have to good use. Or maybe you just want to supplement your earnings with a steadier income. Whatever your motivation, you're bound to have some questions that need answering before you take this any further.
What could I earn?
Construction based assessors can earn very good money, currently up to £40,000 or more. Although the work will involve some travel, many assessors find enough work in their region. This work can be full or part time, and can complement your current work pattern.
What will I be doing?
Assessment is the process of judging the quality of a candidate's performance against a given set of standards or 'performance criteria'.
You will visit the candidates at their work place and discuss their work on a one to one basis with them. You will question them about their work practices, and find out whether they know if they're working to industry standards. Together you will build up a portfolio for the candidate, which will include photographs, drawings, testimonials, a copy of their CV and evidence of any Q&A about job knowledge. You will need your own transport to be able to visits the various work places.
What experience do I need?
To become an assessor you will need at least five years industry experience. You do not have to have a formal qualification though, as prior knowledge and experience can be taken into account. However, you will need to gain accreditation from the awarding body. Currently all trades are covered as far as assessment is concerned and new qualifications come along all the time.
How long will it take to qualify as an assessor?
The A1 Assessor course is a level 3 qualification which covers all the ENTO requirements for assessing.
It will take from 3 months to a year to complete, depending on how much assessment you are currently doing. The course includes two three-hour formal training sessions, accompanied by a series of one to one sessions.
During this time you will be responsible for building your own portfolio of the assessments you have completed.
How much does it cost?
Training to become an Assessor and Verifier is fully subsidised for construction workers.
The usual course fee for non-construction workers is £350 plus a £19 registration fee with City & Guilds.
Want to find out more?
To find out more, please contact Damien Leach or Gary Tearle at Chichester College on 01243 786 321, extension number 2157.
Still Unsure?
If you're not certain you want to commit to the A1 Assessor course yet, you might like to consider training as a Work Based Recorder.
Work Based Recorders support on-site trainees undertaking their NVQs. You only have to attend a one-off appreciation course at City College Brighton and Hove. The session should only take between two and three hours and you'll leave with a deeper understanding of construction education opportunities - information that your own company could benefit from a great deal.
Give something back, make sure your skills are passed on to the next generation by becoming a college tutor
Teaching is a great way to make sure that future construction workers benefit from the skills you've developed and perfected over the course of your career. By passing on your knowledge you will be putting something back into the industry. In time your contribution will benefit the local economy and, in the short term, you can enjoy job satisfaction and a steady income.
What could I earn?
As a Lecturer you could earn up to £28,000 per annum. As well as passing on your theoretical and practical skills to students you would be responsible for all the lesson planning and student management.
You could earn up to £19,000 per annum as an Educational Instructor, passing on practical skills to students.
Or you could work as a Technician, earning up to £20,000 per annum by supporting tutors and students with the practical preparation of building materials and the work environment.
How do I become a tutor?
You can train to become a tutor in just one year, by taking the City & Guilds Teachers Certificate (7407). The course is run on a part time basis and involves a three-hour weekly training session. These sessions will either take place in the morning or the evening, depending on what best suits you.
How much will it cost?
The City & Guilds Teachers Certificate (7407) costs £700.
Want to find out more?
For more information, please contact Claire Flowers at City College Brighton and Hove on 01273 667 788, extension number 553.
Still Unsure?
If you're not certain you want to commit to becoming a college tutor just yet, you might like to consider training as a Work Based Recorder.
Work Based Recorders support onsite trainees undertaking their NVQs. You only have to attend a one-off appreciation course at City College Brighton and Hove. The session should only take between two and three hours and you'll leave with a deeper understanding of construction education opportunities - information that your own company could benefit from a great deal.
Let us keep you up to date with what's happening here in Brighton and Hove, and right across Sussex
For information about major developments and construction projects in Brighton and Hove and around Sussex, click here.
For all the latest news from Constructing Futures, click here.
There are also several business support services that can help keep you up to date with what's happening locally. Click here to find out more.
Make sure you have the latest Health and Safety information
It's common sense that employers need to make sure their practices are in-line with the latest Health and Safety regulations. Fortunately the Learning and Skills Council have published a complete set of guidelines designed to help you run a safer, better business. To download a PDF version of the booklet that you can print, photocopy and hand out to your staff, simply click here.
Supporting First Footings with Sponsorship and Donations
Constructing Futures – First Footings is a local initiative and looks for support from local employers and commercial partners through sponsorship and donations. For example:
- Sponsorship of tools/materials/equipment
- Sponsorship of awards for star achievers
- Donations of materials from specialist merchants e.g. tiles, bricks, paint etc:
Get rid of unwanted building materials at the end of a job!
Why not put unused building materials to good use? Next time you complete a job, simply donate any leftovers to First Footings! By simulating real on-site conditions, First Footings will give its students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of different aspects of construction, including carpentry and joinery, plumbing and brickwork.
Of course, to keep a project like this up and running, First Footings will need a regular supply of specific building materials - and that's where you come in.
If you would like to speak to someone directly about donating your unwanted building materials, call Constructing Futures - First Footings on: 01273 667765.
In return for your support, we may be able to offer some benefits to the sponsoring employers or merchants – for example, publicity/advertising on the website and within the Centre, invitations to employer events and introduction to the construction industry training days for merchants’ staff.
Work ready, pre-apprenticeship trained First Footings leavers, now available to start work
Each week, up to five First Footings students will have completed their pre-apprenticeship training programme and work experience placements. All successful leavers will have passed their CSCS Health & Safety certificate and many will have gained an OCNW Certificate in Preparation for Employment in Construction Industries (a general maintenance qualification). Most of our leavers will be ready and available to take up employment in the local construction industry or related services (e.g. builders’ merchants) as apprentices, improvers or semi-skilled workers.
If, as an employer, you are keen to offer a career opportunity to one of our motivated and work-ready First Footings leavers, please contact us at Constructing Futures.
Tel: 01273 667 765, e-mail: constructingfutures@ccb.ac.uk
If you are interested in providing 2-week work experience placements for First Footings trainees, then again, contact us on 01273 667 765 or constructingfutures@ccb.ac.uk
For more information on the workplace experience scheme, please click here.
Want to find out more?
To find out more about First Footings, click here.
If you would like to speak to someone directly about donating your unwanted building materials, call Constructing Futures - First Footings on 01273 667 765.
Alternatively you can email First Footings at firstfootings@ccb.ac.uk
