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PfP Thrive Launches Skills Relay to Inspire the Next Generation of Construction and Housing Talent

 

  • PfP Thrive launches a nationwide Skills Relay to champion apprenticeships and upskilling

  • Opportunities for newcomers, trainees, and experienced professionals seeking development

  • Housing association Amplius is the first to ‘take the baton’

  • Derby MP, Baggy Shanker joins the launch to show his support

PfP Thrive, part of the UK’s leading social enterprise Places for People (PfP), has launched the Skills Relay – a nationwide challenge to tackle the UK’s construction and housing skills crisis.

With demand for qualified workers at an all-time high and a shortfall of 250,000 needed to deliver the Government’s housing and construction plans, the Skills Relay celebrates anyone with a passion for learning. It supports apprentices, trainees, and professionals looking to upskill while inspiring the next generation of skilled workers to address the sector’s growing talent gap.

A bright pink baton stars as the symbol of the challenge. It was officially unveiled at the official opening of PfP Thrive’s Skills Centre in Derby today, and will now travel across the country, visiting construction sites, colleges, and skill centres. Each handover will connect learners, employers, and training providers, making the skills challenge visible across the industry.

Tom Arey, Director at PfP Thrive, explained:

“The UK’s skills shortage is a crisis for construction and housing so that’s why we have launched the Skills Relay as a call to action for every organisation to step up. That includes our industry peers, the supply chain, education providers and the government, as we invite more collaboration to combat the biggest threat to our sector.

“This baton represents knowledge, progress, and opportunity. Every apprentice and learner who takes part is helping close the skills gap and secure the future of our sector.”

 

The initiative launches with Amplius as the first recipient of the Skills Relay baton in Derby today. Zoe Ferris is Head of Organisational Development and Engagement at Amplius, which owns and manages almost 39,500 homes, and said: “Collaboration is key to tackling the skills crisis. We are proud to take another step forward in our partnership with PfP Thrive and commit to giving more people the chance to learn, upskill, and progress their careers.”

Officially opening the building and launching the Skills Relay, MP for Derby South, Baggy Shanker, commented:

“It’s a real privilege to open PfP Thrive’s Derby Skills Hub. The skills gap is one of the biggest challenges facing our economy, and this government is determined to work alongside industry to fix it. What’s happening here in Derby shows exactly how that can be done – employers, educators and local people joining together to equip the next generation with skills, grow talent and build a stronger future for our city and our country.”

L-R Greg Reed, CEO Placesfor People Tom Arey, PfP Thrive Baggy Shanker, MP for Derby South

PfP Thrive provides high-quality, accredited training programmes to nurture new talent and upskill existing professionals. The Skills Relay represents a collective industry effort to pass on skills, share knowledge, and engage young people at a time when apprenticeship entries are falling – down 4% for 16-year-olds, 2% for 17-year-olds, and 1% for 18-year-olds last year.

 

The Skills Relay offers a tangible way for the sector to unite, build capability, and inspire a new generation of construction and housing professionals.

 

CLICK HERE to find out more about PfP Thrive

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LEVIAT BECOMES AN INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS APPROVED EMPLOYER

Leviat, a world leader in lifting, connecting and anchoring technology for the construction industry continues its determined support of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers by becoming an Approved Employer for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).  

 

Leviat has successfully joined the list of Approved Employers from ICE, which enables them to provide structured training schemes for civil engineers looking to develop further professionally. ICE helps civil engineers gain their professional qualification by providing industry experience through over 450 company training schemes, but the employer also has an important part to play in supporting students to develop their knowledge and experience in their journey towards becoming qualified. The Initial Professional Development Panel (IPDP) has formally approved Leviat’s Technical Director, Mark Smith, to act as the Supervising Civil Engineer for the ICE training scheme.

 

This could not come at a better time, as the demand for engineers and personnel in the UK construction sector is rapidly increasing. According to latest figures from CITB, an additional 225,000 construction workers are required by 2027. Furthermore, the industry is presently facing a skills shortage, which refers to the widening gap between the number of unfilled construction positions and the number of qualified individuals who can take on these roles.

 

The green light from ICE means that engineers employed at Leviat can gain the skills, knowledge and experience needed to complete their initial professional development on their path to becoming professionally qualified. This provides them with an effective path for career advancement and encourages more individuals to take advantage of on-the-job training, thereby addressing the skills shortage issue in the industry. The endorsement is a significant recognition of the quality of both Leviat’s training and its experience in the industry.

 

To showcase their achievement, two recent graduates employed at Leviat recently attended Brunel University in London and successfully delivered a presentation about Leviat’s place in the construction industry and potential career opportunities. The event was a major success, receiving positive feedback from students and teachers.

 

One student commented:

“It was an eye-opener that further boosts my morale to pursue excellence in the engineering industry.” Dr Esmaeel Esmaeeli, Lecturer in Structural Engineering at Brunel University said: “Students found the presentation very interesting, and it gave them a better understanding of engineering within the UK construction industry, knowledge of innovative structural concrete connection systems and a better understanding of possible career opportunities after graduation.”

 

The event is only part of Leviat’s wider strategy to engage with leading universities to attract future talent and enhance their technical departments. They plan to attend additional open days and career fairs, invite students to visit their headquarters in Sheffield, arrange site visits and offer internships for final-year students to get a taste of the industry at work.

 

Bryan Jex, Sales Director for Structural Connections at Leviat said:

“We are thrilled to join the list of Approved Employers for the Institution of Civil Engineers. It is evidence of our ongoing commitment to inspire future generations to join our industry, and it’s great to be acknowledged for the talented leaders we have at Leviat who make it their mission to provide invaluable training for the next cohort of civil engineers.”

CLICK HERE For more information about LEVIAT

 

or CLICK HERE to visit the CRH website

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