Sector Skills Agreements

ConstructionSkills, in its role as a Sector Skills Council, is working for the construction industry and its clients to ensure they have the right skills, in the right place at the right time.

Representing the industry in every part of the UK, ConstructionSkills has since 2005, negotiated a series of Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs) that address the key skills challenges identified through research and industry consultation. These collaborative agreements between construction employers, training providers and Government partners and their agencies are designed to provide the right type of training, in the right format to allow employers and employees to improve their performance and productivity within the industry.

SSAs have been developed, or are in the process of being developed, in the built heritage sector between ConstructionSkills and the respective home country heritage agencies to address traditional building skills training and development. It is envisaged that further agreements will emerge between ConstructionSkills and other heritage partners in this important sector of the built environment. 
 

England

In 2002, ConstructionSkills and English Heritage signed a Memorandum of Agreement to work together to address the issues concerning traditional building craft skills shortages and skills gaps. Their first SSA Sector Skills Agreement between CITB-ConstructionSkills and English Heritage (2005-2007) was developed to maintain sustainable strategies for traditional building craft skills training and development in the historic environment. This used the expertise and influence of the Sector Skills Council for construction and the Government’s advisor on the historic environment in England to bring this issue into mainstream construction thinking. As conservation is part of the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector of the construction industry, this partnership strengthens the relationship between the new build and heritage sectors of the construction industry.

The successor SSA ConstructionSkills and English Heritage Sector Skills Agreement (2008 – 2010) provides an ideal mechanism for further developing common strategies, new initiatives, research and exchange of information. This is essential to deliver improved recruitment, relevant training and career development for craftspeople working within the historic environment. The National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) is the principle means for day-to-day delivery of the shared aims, objectives and policies of ConstructionSkills and English Heritage on traditional building craft skills issues and is therefore an integral part of these SSAs.

The SSA is a formal partnership and provides funding and resources to support the suite of NHTG publications, including the Skills Needs Analysis reports, newsletters, briefings, careers brochure; web site; skills events; training, standards and qualifications development to promote traditional building craft skills to as wide an audience as possible and up-skill the sector workforce.

Scotland

Using the SSA in England as a model, a similar agreement was developed between ConstructionSkills and Historic Scotland.

A key outcome of that agreement was the commissioning, funding and publication of the NHTG Traditional Building Craft Skills in Scotland 2007 survey and research report. The Skills Action Plan from the report continues to be used as a working document to address skills shortages and skills gaps identified in the survey. The agreement is being taken forward under a Memorandum of Understanding between Historic Scotland, ConstructionSkills in Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Wales

A draft agreement between ConstructionSkills in Wales and Cadw, Welsh Assembly Government and based upon the previous home country agreements is currently being considered to further support delivery of the Skills Action Plan in the NHTG Traditional Building Craft Skills in Wales 2007 report.

Northern Ireland

Development of a partnership agreement is currently being considered between ConstructionSkills in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. This is linked to the launch of the NHTG Traditional Building Craft Skills in Ireland 2009 report and will support delivery of the Skills Action Plan.