Bricklaying Training and the Academy Model Steve Walker CITB National Training Manager

Bricklaying Diploma Students – Employer Expectation (HBSP Slide) Findings - Instead of expected 3-6 month induction/settling in period on site it is closer to 6 -18 months due to: • A lack of understanding by students of up to date site practices • Little site experience or understanding of the requirements of working on a productive site • A lack of engagement with day to day working patterns • Lack of some of the most basic skills such as working to line and level • Training environment - lack of context, scale and unrealistic settings/surroundings • Students lack confidence to apply themselves which leads to employers not having the confidence to allow them • Lack of continuous/sustained practical work so students understand the physical requirements of work on site.

What can CITB do to address the situation of site ready apprentices? CITB 2018 Bricklaying Survey What can CITB do to address the situation of site ready apprentices? Improve quality of training - ensure ‘real world’ training solution, ensuring learners are work ready on final assessment, increase level required to get certified. Get the right balance of education and experience. Increase incentives– funded training opportunities, post qualification grant, pay the companies rather than the colleges who provide no practical experience Provide more opportunities for on site experience and exposure. Incentivise SME’s to take on learners and fund them for day release to college. Improve Image - Work to address the image of bricklaying to increase numbers interested

Speaking with Colleges A full time course for bricklaying is actually delivered across 16-18 hours per week Colleges required to prioritise English and Maths GCSE which can take up around a 3rd of the study programme A further 3rd of the programme can be spent classroom based on construction / wider learning Learners may only spend a 3rd of their programme gaining practical brickwork skills There is no ‘slack’ in the funding after delivering 16-18 hours per week Colleges raised concern over there being a lack of real commitment from employers to recruit learners and / or provide work experience opportunities

CITB Brickwork Academy Programme

What the solution must address Improvement in the skills and productivity of those in education wishing to pursue a career as a bricklayer Improve the site readiness and employment sustainability of those entering the sector from FE Increase in the number of new entrants transitioning from full time FE into employment within the bricklaying sector Ensure that the supply of learners aligns to employer needs

College Programme - Brickwork Academy Aimed at the top performing 15 - 20% full-time level 2 brickwork learners who wish to take part and delivered in the college by the colleges Requires employers to ‘sponsor’ selected learners whilst still at college and provide work experience placements Learners selected for ‘sponsorship’ by employers will undertake an extended ‘academy route’ curriculum based on practical skills development and improving their employability skills

College Programme - Brickwork Academy CITB have worked in collaboration with industry federations and employers to provide the academy route curriculum content CITB will provide set-up funding for colleges to invest in additional equipment to deliver the new content CITB will support employers by paying them £50 per day for work experience given to the ‘sponsored’ learners

College Programme - Brickwork Academy The additional curriculum currently stands at 32 days based on 7 hour training days and will be funded for selected learners through CITB support Curriculum content includes employability skills, technical drawings and assessment criteria including diversification from traditional build - such as timber frame and brick-slip systems Delivery timetable is down to colleges but we see this being a combination of infill days each week and block weeks where possible

Employer Role in the Academy Programme Sponsoring employers will employ the learner on completion of their full time course for a period of 24 weeks - supported by CITB funding Learners will undertake the Brickwork NVQ level 2 during the 24 weeks of supported employment – Supported by CITB funding Learner employment options post 24 weeks supported employment Continue in employment with employer Find work with another employer Become self-employed

Pilot regions Timescale pressures Liverpool City Region (Liverpool and Wirral) West Midlands (Coventry and Warwickshire) 19 employers 24 learners Evaluation Roll out to 32 colleges 2019-20 Sustainability