SW apprentices to benefit from Government Covid-19 local partnership

Apprentices in the South West construction sector at risk of losing out on their career due to Covid-19 can benefit from job redeployment support from a local partnership.

Shared Apprenticeships South West (SASW) is the region’s delivery partner for the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) national support for shared apprenticeship schemes.

SASW, working with apprentice employers, can assist with displaced apprentices, offering employment for the remainder of the apprenticeship duration, as well as mentoring, liaising with colleges and managing payroll and HR responsibilities on behalf of the employer.

The SASW Board is made up of partner organisations from the construction industry, education sector, councils and Local Enterprise Partnerships in the South West. Board members include representatives from The Midas Group, the University of Exeter, Morgan Sindall, BAM Construction and Building Plymouth. 

Ian Bassett, Business Support Director at The Midas Group, which has offices in Bristol, Exeter, Newton Abbott and Plymouth, said: "We at the Midas Group are committed to developing individuals to gain the skills and experience that will be vital to the industry's future. Shared Apprenticeships South West enables us to do this in a way that is flexible for both us and the apprentice.

“By undertaking the recruitment and matching process on our behalf, as well as being involved with the training colleges, the scheme is a fantastic model for creating and filling apprentice opportunities in construction.”

Sixty per cent of construction companies in an industry survey have said they would take on fewer apprentices at the next intake later this year. Approximately half of construction’s 11,000 apprentices across the country are furloughed.

Usually, apprentices work for one employer throughout their training, but at present this may not be possible. CITB is therefore currently investing a total of £1million in schemes to place apprentices with different construction companies, providing a range of experience and skills while allowing employers to continue supporting apprenticeships through short-term placements.

Deborah Madden, CITB Head of Apprenticeships, said: “CITB is committed to doing everything to retain apprentices displaced as a result of Covid-19 within the sector and to limit the impact on their training. We’re delighted to be working with SASW in the South West, who will bring a wealth of experience at this difficult time. Support for shared apprenticeship schemes is just one of several measures outlined as part of CITB’s Skills Stability Plan for industry.”

Many contracts that construction employers work on include Section 106 planning permission requirements to employ local apprentices. Shared apprenticeship schemes can help with this through recruitment and in directly employing and supporting apprentices through their training.

Further CITB measures to support construction apprentices and their employers in the coming months include:

· job redeployment services, including as a partner through the Construction Leadership Council’s Construction Talent Retention Scheme

· reallocation of funding to a new employer to help apprentices to complete their training if at risk

· the apprenticeships information and reporting app

· pastoral support

The shared apprenticeship schemes and regional delivery partners so far include: East of England and East Sussex – TrAC; London –Evolve; North West and Cumbria – Constructing the Future; South of England – CoTrain; South West England – Shared Apprenticeships South West; Wales – Y Prentis; Wales – Cyfle Building Skills; Yorkshire and Humber – EN:Able Futures