Industry Training Boards Need Fundamental Reset says Farmer

A NEW REPORT on the Industry Training Boards calls for a fundamental reset.

The report by Mark Farmer, Transforming the Construction Workforce 2023 Industry Training Boards (ITB) Review has been published today by the Department for Education.

The review, by the author of the 2016 Modernise or Die, looked at the effectiveness of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).

In the new review, Farmer says that, on the face of it, their current impact does not justify their existence. He says there is a “need for a fundamental reset with activities, key capabilities, and leadership all ‘root and branch’ reviewed with a ruthless focus turned purely to addressing the future workforce resiliency and quantum challenge.”

Wholesale Transformation

The report recommends keeping the boards but also says they need a “wholesale transformation, suggesting that merging the two boards would not only make them more efficient, but models implemented in the engineering sectors could be duplicated in construction sectors. A new body is envisaged, acting as a workforce development agency, spanning training and improvement of both new and existing workers.

The new body should have specialist, sub-sector specific implementation teams spanning construction.

Farmer also says the Training Boards should comply with government spending rules and requirement as they are part of government as an Arms Length Body (ALB).

Key Performance Indicators

Funding should be made more accountable, with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) linked to all objectives. Future funding, Farmer admits will need to deliver greater efficiency. He adds, “Poor performance going forward should not have the protection of another full ITB review cycle period but instead should be subject to early intervention by government and industry.”

Farmer criticises the ability of the Boards to help retain workers in the construction industry, saying the focus on attracting new entrants has not achieved diversity, nor “delivered sufficient additionality to offset current and future attrition risks.”

The report suggests ending ringfencing the Apprenticeship Levy (now called the Growth & Skills fund) and utilising funding more flexibly for training and upskilling to keep apprentices in construction and employed.

Training the Trainers

Suggesting a more holistic approach, Farmer also discusses a modular approach to training to upskill construction workers faster and help retention. Farmers recommends training the trainers and assessors as a priority.

There’s also a recommendation to focus more on competency, introducing a digital passport to track the competencies of worker – which Farmer acknowledges is a step towards licensing in anything but name.

He adds that the focus on competency is seen as a means to improve productivity in the industry, and competency should be enshrined in all training courses.

>>See the CITB’s responses to the report here.

INDUSTRY RESPONSE

Plugging Gaps

James Talman

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), CEO James Talman said, “We hope these recommendations will enhance the already strong relationship NFRC has with the CITB.

“Our team already has direct involvement with developing industry-relevant standards and training and will continue to do so as we continue professionalising roofing.”

“NFRC is strengthening data collection from its members and working with the CITB to adopt best practices, enabling more informed, data-driven decision-making. This will feed into the review’s recommendation to utilise industry data to inform strategic planning.

“The better our data, the better our ability to identify holes in standards and training provision. We are always working hard to understand our members’ needs.

“NFRC recognises the importance of regional accessibility for roofing training programmes and is working hard to plug gaps across the UK by connecting its members with appropriate training providers and CITB training groups.

“There are still areas of the UK that lack accessible training provision, and we welcome the recommendation for ITBs to establish regional training centres in collaboration with trade bodies to address area-specific needs.

“Training accessibility is a key issue reported by NFRC Members across the UK. We hope to see this recommendation taken seriously going forward.”

Maximise Manufacturers Contribution

Denise Cherry, Chair of the National Roof Training Group, said: “I welcome the recommendations in the ITB Review – Transforming the Construction Workforce and totally agree that the roofing competency and skills landscape requires a total overhaul, as it is currently failing to provide the right training, in the right locations to the right people.

“I believe that the retention of an ITB as a tool for strategic input and funding is necessary to keep skills and knowledge developed over time, but it’s time for disruption of the status quo and to do thing differently.

“The new body should acknowledge the contribution of manufacturers and suppliers, whose resources, knowledge and innovation are shared generously with those struggling to deliver roof training with minimal and often outdated materials and resources. This collaboration should be maximised in specific, specialist action groups which could elicit real change.

“A stronger focus on bringing in more trainers and assessors is welcomed. Despite best efforts, this area has been overlooked to the point where the situation is now critical, and roofing companies are often failing to train, simply because there is no training available in their local area and provision cannot grow because of lack of trainers. It is hard to promote careers when the nearest available apprenticeship in a specific trade is 100 or 200 miles away.

“To attract new talent there needs to be a clear and targeted message and a range of opportunities to engage with children and young people to influence early choices. Schools’ engagement should more interactive and task-based resources need to engage and inspire.

“For construction to be viewed as a career of choice it needs to engage and promote the best of our people and stimulate a true respect for the construction workforce and infrastructure created through effective promotions.

“There is a lot to consider in this report and it would bode well for the future of the industry if all parties could come together to collaborate to make these necessary changes and demonstrate to others just why those of us who work in construction are so passionate about promoting it.”

Shows the Way Forward

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said, “For too long the construction industry has been plagued by an ongoing skills crisis which is holding back economic growth. The urgent need to build new infrastructure projects and deliver much needed housing won’t happen unless there is radical review of the training landscape – the Mark Farmer report shows the way forward.”

“The report’s recognition that the Industry Training Boards need to stay will allow for stability, but we fully support the frank assessment that things need to change if we are to have a modern workforce to meet the needs of a modern economy.

“The proposed refresh of construction occupational and qualification standards is long overdue, as is the need for the Industry Training Boards to review their scope to take account of new markets within the construction sector – most notably the retrofit market.”

“If the Government is to deliver its ambitious infrastructure and housing targets, then it makes sense for them to implement the Mark Farmer report in full.”

>> Read more about construction training in the news