NEECC meeting targets support for next generation

At a time when we’re facing a major skills shortage in the sector the CAN board continues to work with regional organisations to find ways to improve the situation for our next generation of construction workers, focusing particularly on the trades.

CAN met with North East England Chamber of Commerce representatives earlier this year to provide a regional contractor’s perspective on the Local Skills Improvement Plan project (LSIP) they are working on for the Department for Education.

The project aims to set out key priorities and changes needed in a local area to make post-16 technical education or training more responsive and closely aligned to local labour market needs.

It also provides a representative and coherent employer view of the skills most needed to support local economic growth and boost productivity and improve employability and progression for learners.

CAN are actively involved in the One Voice regional campaigns and board members recently attended the People’s Group meeting as part of the Action Plan. It was great to see some brilliant developments across the region discussed at the meeting, with multiple projects helping to upskill the North East workforce.

These included:
• The Wonder Challenge
• Esh Group Build Your Skills Programme which Esh are in the process of relaunching
• Hartlepool College of Further Education Job Shadowing programme
• NAWIC North East and Tees Valley Schools to Site Programme
• RE:gen Training – Green Skills safari/Retrofit Programmes

CAN will always promote the interests of regional SME contractors the vast majority of whom employ trades direct. This is real social value.