RICS members call for measures to boost apprenticeships

A new research report contributed to by RICS, calls on government to improve apprenticeship system to create a better skilled workforce for vital infrastructure projects.

The report, Build back better: Improving the apprenticeship system to better support infrastructure, recommends the Government works with the authors, employers and professional bodies to:

• Recognise the value of apprenticeships leading to professional registration
• Increase the flexibility of the apprenticeship levy
• Join up and improve the apprenticeship systems across the UK
• Celebrate and promote apprenticeships

Aled Williams, who co-authored the report and is CIC Champion on Higher Education and UCEM’s Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships, said: “The construction industry is integral to the UK’s financial health and can provide the catalyst for an economic recovery accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apprenticeships are hugely important for employers to train workforces with the appropriate skill set to achieve the ambitious infrastructure projects projected across the nation, however, both businesses and education providers need to have more input in how these are run. The research shows that there is a desire throughout the construction industry to get apprenticeships right and, if Government listens and acts upon the recommendations outlined, there could be huge benefits for the UK.”

Mike Cox, Future Talent Manager – Universities, Skills and Apprenticeships, RICS, who contributed to the report commented “This research has confirmed what RICS and others have been saying for a while, that many employers in our industry are fully committed to apprenticeships and it is now time for Government to work with RICS and others to build on our successes to date. Having the apprenticeship levy support direct links to professional registration will help build a high quality, well regulated and aspirational apprenticeship system."

This report was written on behalf of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), University College of Estate Management (UCEM) and the Technical Apprenticeship Consortium (TAC), with data used from a CIC survey of employers.