Partnership Launched To Support Traditional Skills In Construction Industry
14 November 2008, A collaboration between Historic Scotland, Constructionskills Scotland, and Scottish Qualifications Authority is to be launched in a bid to tackle the skills gaps in the traditional building sector in the construction industry. The three organisations have come together, for the first time, to establish a joint programme – Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) - for the next four years.
Nearly 50% of Scotland’s construction activity relates to repair and maintenance, but gaps remain in the availability of a broad range of traditional building skills.
The first task for the partnership will be to identify the skills and knowledge gaps in traditional building skills in the construction sector.
It will then ensure the correct qualifications and professional development are in place, within the education framework, to improve the conservation, maintenance and repair of traditionally constructed buildings in Scotland.
David Mitchell, director of Technical Conservation Group at Historic Scotland, said: “This is a significant step by all three parties to assist in identifying gaps in training and knowledge in the traditional skills sector, and to work with industry, training providers and other partners to raise the standards of work being undertaken on traditional buildings across Scotland. It’s also an opportunity for us, as a working group, to help the wider construction industry during a difficult period.”Graeme Ogilvy, Scotland director for ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council said: “It’s crucial that we take the correct steps to bridging the skills gap in this industry by educating those working in the sector about the importance of properly preserving the country’s heritage buildings. ConstructionSkills is committed to ensuring that those working in the professional sector have the correct knowledge and skills needed to specify the right traditional building materials and oversee the work on our heritage buildings. We look forward to working closely with Historic Scotland and the SQA to address this issue and to develop appropriate training and heritage qualifications for the professional sector.”
With the MoU in place, Historic Scotland and Constructionskills will carry out a qualifications audit looking at the provision and delivery of vocational training relating to traditional building skills in Scotland. The audit, due to be completed by summer 2009, will be placed against a framework of traditional skills required to effectively care for Scotland’s built environment.
The results will form a strategy for the development of qualifications, educational resources and training to meet demands and the industry’s main priorities. The partnership will approach colleges across Scotland and encourage them to introduce the strategy to either existing courses or establish new courses within the current Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.
Staff will be trained at delivery centres, assist with educational resources, and support SQA Quality Assurance in suggesting appropriately experienced External Verifiers, and assist with development.
