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CONSTRUCTION WEB Visits Cardiff 12th October

Mon 17 Oct 2005

The 8^th Youthbuilding UK event held at the County Hall in Cardiff Bay, drew in construction industry professionals from around the UK and also overseas. Construction Web’s Lloyd Heath attended the event which served as an opportunity to network and exchange ideas. 

The event received a good attendance in support of youth in construction. After an introduction from Monica Chatterton MBE Youthbuild UK Chair, the ELWa Conference Chair, Teresa Holdsworth, Head of Development and European Policy, delivered her speech. She focused on the fact that young people not in employment, generally had lower than average qualifications and that it was really important to bridge the gap between the youth and contractors.

After Young Builder of the Year Jeff Bridges collected his award, and gave a moving account of his life, Rhodri Morgan, First Minister of the Welsh Assembly, then addressed the delegation. He clearly put across his opinion, that the best way for youth in construction to learn, was by letting them maintain a hands on approach to construction as  theory can only go so far. He then helped to hand out the awards to the outstanding young individuals.

Andrew Howard, Head of Corporate Communications NHBC, spoke next and recalled the time he visited a Glasgow building site and met students who would get up at the crack of dawn to go to work. He observed their relationship with their site manager and acknowledged that undertaking such work experience took a great deal of ‘commitment’ from the students. Touching upon the need to get more women into construction, he also revealed that the NHBC’s UK Site Manager of the Year award went to a female site manager.

Next the eagerly awaited Stuart Gardner, Senior Policy Manager from the LSC addressed the delegation. He outlined his desire to make England more competitive against our European neighbours with regards to getting young people into education and training, and by 2010, wanted England to be amongst the best in the world in vocational training.

The main points that he highlighted were: 

• 6 Million people benefit form LSC funded education per annum.
• Over the next 5 years approximately 440,000 new construction industry workers will be needed.
• The construction industry needs more Graduates, Women, Older people and Ethnic minorities.
• The LSC’s budget for 2005/6 is £9.3 million.

He also mentioned the new initiatives that the LSC are promoting, such as Young Apprenticeships. 14-16 Years olds will do maths and english at school for 3 days a week with the other 2 days spent learning their vocational qualification. So by the time that they leave, they’ll go straight into an apprenticeship.

Questions were then fielded from various delegates with regard to the problems that they themselves were having delivering their projects. Lunch was then had before delegates separated into various workshops.

The event was informative and successfully highlighted the achievements of youth in construction while bringing together industry professionals.

The venue, County Hall, Cardiff.

 
Speakers (from left) Monica Chatterton
Youthbuild UK Chair, Teresa Holdsworth
ELWa Conference Chair, Andrew Howard
from the NHBC and Stuart Gardner
from the LSC.

Andrew Howard, Head of Corporate
Communications NHBC.

Award winner Stacey (right) with the
help of friend Elizabeth, role play her
training experiences.

Rhodri Morgan (left) First Minister of
the Welsh Assembly presents an award.

Stuart Gardener, Senior Policy
Manager for the Learning Skills Council.

A delegate asks a question.

From left, Brian Metland from CITB
Norfolk and Peter Whitmore from Future
Foundations North Regeneration Zone.

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