“The recent announcement by John Hayes is very positive for the construction industry as a whole,” explains Dominic Tutt, Managing Director of Astins, “It provides the certainty that companies need then they are planning their training. Employer led training will help to build a more productive and competitive industry overall.
“By supporting training through its programme the government is also playing its part in providing a foundation for the construction industry to have a real impact on getting young people back to work.”
For the programme to succeed more investment from companies like Astins is what is required. The development of training programmes that really deliver the much-needed skills should be the focus. However the current funding arrangement places 100% of the pressure squarely on the employer’s shoulders, particularly where apprentices over the age of 25 are concerned.
“The current attitude towards older apprentices really must be challenged,” says Dominic. “With this in mind the government should think about a complete overhaul of the CITB and its construction training levy, because this places a serious disincentive on companies investing in an effective apprenticeship programme of their own. Surely this works against the government’s own employment objectives.”
Astins is perhaps unique in the world of construction. It has successfully invested its own money in a training academy that seeks to develop the skills of young people who would otherwise be unemployed.
The Astins Institute is a £1m fully accredited NVQ centre. It currently has 15 registered apprentices and is looking to recruit a further ten this year. In Astins’ experience well-trained apprentices are more productive and more effective than experienced operatives.
In developing its training programme Astins conceived an assessment tool that empirically demonstrates that good training pays for itself many times over in improved quality and productivity.
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