Construction’s gap isn’t in skills; it’s in communication, says college
Construction’s gap isn’t in skills; it’s in communication, says college
South & City College, Birmingham (SCCB) is urging construction employers across the region to rethink the narrative around a ‘skills shortage’ and instead focus on stronger collaboration with training providers.
National headlines frequently highlight a lack of skilled workers, particularly as the new Labour Government accelerates plans to build 1.5 million homes. But SCCB believes that the real issue is not a lack of learners, but a lack of employer engagement that prevents those learners from gaining the hands-on experience needed to enter the workforce.
The college reports that its workshops and classrooms remain full of young people keen to develop technical construction skills across a range of trades. However, too few employers are engaging with the college to offer placements, apprenticeships or on-site experience.
Rebecca Waterfield, head of employer engagement at SCCB, said that this disconnect is holding the sector back:
“Without employers stepping forward, these learners can’t complete their studies or gain the real-world experience industry demands.
“Ambitious construction targets placed on the sector by the current government make it understandable that construction employers feel under pressure but referencing a ‘skills gap’ simply doesn’t cut it and we need to collaborate in order to shift the construction skills narrative.”
SCCB delivers one of the region’s most comprehensive range of construction courses – from carpentry and roofing to heating, construction management and site supervision. Yet the college’s bricklaying apprenticeship, for example, enrolled just three students this year due to a shortage of employer placements, despite widespread national concern over a lack of qualified bricklayers.
Rebecca continued:
“There’s a massive national shortage of skilled brickies yet due to a lack of employer support in this area, the situation will never improve, and the skills gap will remain.
“This isn’t pointing the finger of blame at employers – we know they’re facing increased employee taxation and other costs, red tape and administrative burdens – this is about joint planning, so that the sector avoids being unprepared for workforce retirements or opportunities to scale up in the coming years.”
“I’ve worked with the construction industry for over 20 years and the challenges of an ageing workforce, skills and attracting talent remain constant. Everyone knows what needs to be done, but not every employer feels able to take the first step. With major projects across Birmingham – from Smithfield and Digbeth to Ladywood, Langley and the forthcoming Sports Quarter – the pressure on the workforce is clear. This is why we created the Building Birmingham Skills Partnership: to make it simpler for employers of all sizes to access the support already available.
“I’d urge construction employers to connect with one of the many college-run employer groups across the city. They offer all the help needed to make offering work experience straightforward and rewarding, especially for SMEs. Every young person given a placement is one more future professional for our sector.
“Simply, if every employer offered just one opportunity, we could close the skills gap not just in Birmingham, but across the wider West Midlands.”
The college’s call to action comes as Birmingham faces the UK’s highest youth unemployment rate at the same time as record levels of construction activity. Only weeks ago, the West Midlands Combined Authority announced plans for at least 10,000 new affordable homes after securing £1.7bn of government funding. SCCB believes this makes employer–education collaboration more critical than ever.
Rebecca concludes:
“Birmingham is at a crossroads. We have enthusiastic learners, fantastic facilities and dedicated lecturers. What we need now is more employers who are willing to connect with us. With the right support, we can turn opportunity into long-term economic strength – and put the ‘skills gap’ narrative firmly behind us.”
With the region’s widest range of construction programmes, SCCB is inviting construction firms of all sizes to start a conversation about placements, apprenticeships and workforce development needs. The college’s approach is flexible, accessible and designed to work around employers’ operational pressures.
South & City College Birmingham offers full-time, part-time and apprenticeship courses from entry-level to higher education in a wide range of subjects, including Health & Care, Automotive and Computing, Digital and IT.
Recently celebrating its achievement of most improved FE college in the UK following publication of the latest National Achievement Rates Tables (NARTs), the college has an ethos of inclusivity at its heart. It provides high-quality education and training to all students, regardless of their prior achievement or background. Each year, the college teaches and trains thousands of learners across its seven campuses.
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