Skills Development
We work with the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), the professional institutions, and the various industry bodies to encourage more businesses to adopt a formal approach to skills development at all levels: management, technician, and trades. The Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are the lead bodies in developing and implementing strategies to address the skills needs for their industries. The four main SSCs covering the built environment are:
- ConstructionSkills - building and civil engineering
- SummitSkills - electro-technical, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, cabling, lighting and plumbing industries
- Asset Skills - facilities management (part of wider footprint)
- Proskills - building products (part of wider footprint).
Many of the trade bodies also have programmes to promote training. BIS welcomes the construction industry's drive towards a qualified and competent workforce; the work of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and equivalent schemes, and the Construction Industry Council’s work promoting Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Investors in People
BIS is keen to see more construction companies, especially small firms, commit to the Investors in People (IiP) standard. Eligible companies wishing to develop their Training Plans, or similar structured approaches to training, can get advice and assistance from their SSC contacts.
Diversity, including women in construction
The industry's workforce is mainly male with a low proportion from the ethnic minorities. There are many opportunities available for women in construction, and a number of organisations exist specifically to provide training and support for women in the industry. See the SSCs websites for details of their own programmes. The Constructing Excellence People Zone also provides useful information.
