Construction building craft occupations have a
traditional role in supplying a qualified workforce to small and medium
enterprises (SMEs). The vast majority of companies in the sector are small,
with over 97% employing fewer than 25 people. Only 1% of sector businesses
employ more than 60 people, although these firms carry out a disproportionate
share of the work by value.
Over one-third (38%) of the construction workforce in
England is self-employed. Self-employment is particularly high in the main
craft trades where it averages around 60% of the workforce, and is also highly
concentrated in some regions. Regional analysis shows proportions of
self-employment above 40% in London, the East and South East, as well as the
West Midlands.
There are 1,817,049 employees in construction in England,
and by the year 2015, a further 38,630 new recruits will be needed to fill the
posts of those that retire or leave the industry. The following is the annual
recruitment for the period 2011 to 2015.
• Bricklayers 1,930
• Wood Trades and Interior Fit outs 5,180
• Painters and Decorators 3,030
• Maintenance sector will also see growth but no figures are available
• Construction professionals and technical staff 1,000
The priorities for the sector for 2010 to 2014 are to:
• improve productivity
• attract, retain and develop talent
• increase diversity
• improve supervisory, management and leadership skills
• collaborate with employers and stakeholders.
An apprenticeship in construction follows a pattern of
vocational training to meet the requirements of a ConstructionSkills' approved
framework. This enables apprentices to develop skills and knowledge which they
can then demonstrate and evidence in a real construction environment.
The Intermediate (Level 2) and Advanced (Level 3)
apprenticeships in craft occupations have been meeting the needs of employers
since the mid 1990’s.
This apprenticeship has been developed to help meet the skills priorities of
the industry and for England by:
• continuing to provide qualifications required by
employers to help their business grow
• providing a flexible entry route to attract applicants from under-represented
groups
• including literacy, numeracy, problem solving and employability skills to
develop the confidence of apprentices to take with them throughout their
working life
• meeting the requirements of the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for
England (SASE).
This framework includes the following occupations at
Intermediate (Level 2) and Advanced (Level 3) in Construction Building.
Intermediate (Level 2)
• Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting
• Maintenance Operations
• Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying and Craft Masonry)
• Wood Occupations (Site Carpentry, Bench Joinery, Shopfitting)
• Woodmachining
Advanced (Level 3)
• Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying)
• Wood Occupations (Site Carpentry, Bench Joinery, Shopfitting Bench)
• Decorative Finishing (Painting and Decorating)
The following providers offer this specialism:
Bishop
Burton College
East Riding
College
Grimsby
Institute
Hull College
Employment opportunities in this sector are very varied. As an Apprentice you can work in a small business or construction company with several hundred employees. On construction sites you could be building anything from a new extension to a suspension bridge. You may be involved in site preparation, actual building, finishing off or the installation of services and utilities. Whatever the job, it is highly likely that as an Apprentice, you will need qualifications such as an Apprenticeship.
