16 BusinessEast Monthly East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, March 21, 2017 www.eadt.co.uk

Sector skills report: Construction

Construction sector overview

Opportunities in the The construction sector is a overwhelming majority (93%) major component of New Anglia’s being micro-sized companies economy - according to Office of with less than 10 employees. National Statistics (ONS) figures Across Norfolk and , from 2014 it accounts for £2.4bn of construction provides a greater GVA and employs a workforce of proportion of GVA (over 7%) than over 59,0002 - many of whom are the industry provides on average construction sector working outside of Norfolk and in other Local Enterprise Suffolk. Partnership (LEP) areas, making There are around 7,370 it integral to the health and In partnership with Suffolk County Council, Business East Monthly is running a series construction businesses with the growth of our economy. of special reports aimed at informing young people about the career opportunities that exist in the region and the skills that are required to make the most of these openings. This month’s report features an overview of the construction sector.

‘There are huge opportunities within construction in ...’ Working in construction is far more diverse than what happens on a building site. Ross Bentley talks to business owner and skills specialist Dayle Bayliss about the need to challenge stereotypes in the sector.

longside heading up a sector from the concept of project infrastructure projects such as successful Suffolk- to the use and maintenance. Sizewell C come on board, based building “The construction sector increasing the vacancies that surveying and suffers from stereotypes, need to be filled.” consultancy business, meaning the view of the roles that But what all these jobs have in ADayle Bayliss is also deeply exist can be limited. These tend to common is that they are involved in promoting the skills cover the architectural role and rewarding, says Dayle agenda for the region’s the trades on site when it is so She continued: “Those of us construction sector. much wider than that. From the that work in construction see She is chair of the steering feasibility of a project, covering every day the rewards from our group for the Suffolk Skills Show, ground investigations, costing, roles and the projects we are signed up to be an Enterprise environmental considerations, involved in. We are fortunate to Adviser and also the skills lead through to detailed design with look around us and see how our on Building Growth, the New architects, surveyors and day job has changed the Anglia LEP’s Construction Sector engineers, then on landscape, but we can all do Group. site and through to more to share these amazing Key to the work of the LEP has maintenance and experiences and show that been the drawing up of a Sector occupation, the construction is varied Skills Plan for Construction, a range of roles and rewarding. It is piece of work that identifies the and more than people on challenges and opportunities opportunities site building the around skills in construction. is extensive projects, it is far more This covers showcasing the roles and this broader. and opportunities that exist makes it Dayle added: “It’s throughout the whole industry, challenging to also not just a job for the best way to inspire young showcase the men, it is far more people to consider a career in jobs and diverse than that and construction and how to opportunities where you finish a project and challenge some of the stereotypes that exist.” see how you have made a that exist. The plan will also be She added: “This difference in the world. But used to inform some of the is only set to we all have to shout loudly courses on offer in the region, so increase as to change some of those that the skills in Norfolk and misconceptions and Suffolk are not only the highest inspire.” quality but relevant to the ■ To view the changes in construction and construction technological advances. sector skills plan Dayle said:”There are huge please visit opportunities within http://www. construction in East Anglia - this newanglia. is more than just the typical co.uk/sector- trades on site but across the whole skills-plans/ East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, March 21, 2017 BusinessEast Monthly 17 www.eadt.co.uk

The Employers

THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Q&A: Nick Fayers, managing director of Barnes Construction What is the current state of the authority frameworks being a very leisure sector in Essex and London solving problems, offering solutions construction sector in East good contributor. They include a and site managers that can operate and working in a totally new CSSD Unit at West Suffolk further afield to enable us to service collaborative and non- Anglia? Hospital, ; a our national clients. confrontational manner. These are It appears to be reasonably buoyant refurbishment of the Queens Wing We are also looking to strengthen the skills we are keen to maintain with an increase in tender at Homerton College, Cambridge; a the planning and programming side and develop within all of our staff. opportunities for most contractors new retail development for the East of our business and are looking to that have a good sector spread. of Cooperative Society at recruit an assistant planner and How do you recruit this talent? Following the Brexit vote last year Rosehill in Ipswich; and a police and assistant estimator. the construction sector has We have a balanced approach to fire station extension in recruitment. We employ experienced performed better than many of us Saxmundham. What specific skills are you had expected within East Anglia, workers as and when required, to looking for? further develop and strengthen our albeit we still believe that there will What roles are you looking to be some volatility during the Brexit It should be a given that as a teams and, at the same time, we preparation and exit period. fill? business we have the technical have a regular intake of We are looking to recruit additional capabilities but what is not always management apprentices that site managers to further strengthen evident are the softer skills required traditionally have come straight What projects are you currently our delivery team and provide us to communicate effectively and from further education at 18 years working on? with greater capacity and an galvanise teams to work efficiently old. In addition to this, we We are currently working on a increased ability to operate outside and with a common set of objectives. periodically take on trade number of projects throughout East of our immediate area. These We have skilled managers at all apprentices and we also support Anglia and across a number of include managers based locally to levels, but more importantly a apprentice recruitment within our different sectors with local Essex to service our work within the management style that is focused on supply chain.

THE ARCHITECT Q&A: Aoife O’Gorman, director at Infinity Architects

What is the current state of the residential and schools to What specific skills does an are often roles for 3D visualisers community buildings. architect need? and interior designers construction sector in East Anglia? It is important to remember What projects are you working that architecture firms are not How do you develop your staff? We are seeing a skills shortage and on? just made up of architects. We have supported a school leaver without the development of local We currently have an interesting Generally, there are two years through a BTEC in Construction skills the booming industry that we mix of projects at different stages of when studying to be an architect Management at West Suffolk College have today will become development: these include a new where office based learning is and then through a foundation unsustainable. There are jobs local authority housing scheme, an required. Many people choose degree in Architectural Technology ready and waiting for those affordable housing development, a to remain in an office at that who remains with us as registered interested in construction and complex hotel extension in the point or return to university on Associate member of CIAT. We have there are great local courses centre of Cambridge and two large a part time basis to complete supported another member of our that are flexible and can provide one-off dwellings. One of the real their studies. Then there is the team to study an undergraduate a good grounding in the field joys of being an architect is that you incredibly important role of an degree in Architecture on a part before developing a more specialist never have two days exactly the architectural technologist, an time basis and a Part II qualified interest. The diversity of our same and bringing an interesting invaluable addition to any Architectural Assistant to complete region enables even a small mix of projects within our office architectural team when designing the Part III post graduate degree architectural practice to get helps keep us all up to date and the highest quality of detail for and now works as an architect with involved in development from enthused about design. buildings. In larger offices there the office.

THE CIVIL ENGINEERING BUSINESS Q&A: Clare Friel, business development manager at R&D Construction

What is the current state of the projects. We have recently secured relevant tickets in order to work on recently held a recruitment open construction sector in East our first job with a retirement our sites, with a minimum day, from which we attracted a good living contractor, who have requirement of a CSCS card. mixture of apprentices and Anglia? extensive growth plans within the For our office based roles the experienced workers. The construction sector is now back region. qualifications are role specific, and We aim to take on two on the rise in this region. Cambridge we invest in our staff by making engineering apprentices every year, is especially busy, and has almost What roles are you looking to fill? sure their qualifications are up to and four groundworks apprentices. made itself recession proof. The We are currently recruiting for a date, and also upskilling them with We also have a management trainee upturn in the construction industry quantity surveyor, and an assistant additional qualifications. programme, which gives graduates is attracting bigger national quantity surveyor as a result of the opportunity to work within all contractors into the area, and continued growth. We are also How do you recruit? areas of the business. This enables enabling local businesses to grow. looking for skilled workers such as We often take on school leavers and them to choose which route they ground workers and machine apprentices - our engineering would like to go down at the end of operators. What projects are you working department takes on the most their trainee programme. on? apprentices and currently has five. Due to the nature of our work we R&D Construction currently has What specific skills are you We recruit using various methods also use experienced workers, as twenty-two live projects. These looking for? including job boards, our website, their knowledge and expertise is range from housing to commercial Our site based staff must have and occasionally agencies. We invaluable.

Follow some of these employers and other construction employers at wwwicanbea.org.uk 18 BusinessEast Monthly East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, March 21, 2017 www.eadt.co.uk

Sector skills report: Construction The Employees

THE TRAINEE QUANTITY SURVEYOR THE SITE MANAGER How I got a job in the ‘There are so many niches in construction industry... construction and a huge variety of jobs...’

Rheanna Pavey is a trainee quantity surveyor at R&D Stephen James, 52, is a site Construction based in Bury St Edmunds manager working on various projects for Gipping After taking my A Levels at St managers and site supervisors to Construction, a construction Joseph’s College in Ipswich, I ensure we maintain margins. company based in Ipswich. He completed a degree in biology at the To be a quantity surveyor you need is also an ambassador for the University of Reading. I decided I a good numerical and analytical Construction Industry Training didn’t want to continue with biology ability. A high level of IT competency Board (CITB) and has visited but I had enjoyed the maths content is also important as is attention to schools to talk to young people in the course. I also have a maths A detail, and the ability to work well about working in construction Level, so I went along to the 2015 within a team. Suffolk Skills Show with my CV, How did you get into intending to talk to accountancy What industry qualifications are firms but instead was inspired by a the construction industry? you studying for? After leaving school I went onto young female quantity surveyor on The company is funding me to do a the R & D Construction stand. I had a carpentry and joinery three-year Quantity Surveying apprenticeship with a London- an inspiring conversation with the Masters conversion course by people there and was invited to based firm called Ashby and day-release at London South Bank Horner. It was an interesting come into the company for a University. I travel down to London morning to learn more about the time, a lot of the work was based to attend lectures and workshops in the City of London on company and quantity surveying as every Tuesday. a career, with the possibility of a heritage buildings, offices and I had a couple of exams in January banks. vacancy for a commercial trainee. I and have more in May, in addition to had another interview following on I moved more into the ongoing course work. The course is management side of things in assessments, management, different sites in different from this and started as a intense with a heavy workload which commercial trainee a few weeks 1987 when Ashby and Horner costing and pricing. I keep a places. means I spend many of my weekends were contracted to work with diary and a folder of evidence to I also like to see how later. studying. I feel lucky that the company Bovis on the construction of the prove I have satisfied the buildings come up from the After spending time in the Financial Times depot. The requirements of the ground. You start with nothing recognised I had some transferable Surveying department there will be skills and didn’t see my lack of engineering assistant was on qualification. and finish with buildings you an opportunity for me to spend some long-term sick leave, so I was Later on this year an assessor can feel proud of. construction experience as a time on site. barrier. brought across to work from the CITB will visit me on In the next three years I hope to alongside the engineer setting site to shadow me as part of the Advice to young people become a qualified quantity surveyor out the print depots. I enjoyed assessment. thinking about entering What does a quantity surveyor and be RICS accredited, which seeing the job more as a whole construction? do? should allow my salary to – not just the carpentry element How did your career I spent six months working as an significantly increase. Check out the CITB and the Go of it - and from here I progressed progress? assistant estimator which involved away from being on the tools Construct websites, which tell Bovis eventually bought out pricing jobs at tender stage. I have towards more management type you about where to get training, Advice to young people looking to Ashby and Horner and I became now moved to the Surveying develop a career in the roles. the names of local construction department, which involves ongoing a site manager for Bovis companies, salaries and types of construction sector? running smaller sites with jobs cost analysis of contracts, pricing What industry - specific jobs. variations, sending out subcontract Find out as much as possible about around the £2m mark. Over the When you mention orders and completing the construction industry and the qualifications do you have? years I’ve held similar roles for construction, most people just monthly valuations. The careers available. Getting work At the time I moved into a number of firms and also set think it’s all about bricks, work is very varied – each experience with a construction management I took a number of up my own building company mortar and mud, but there are a job I am involved in is company is important and City and Guilds qualifications that I ran for three years but the huge variety of jobs for those different. R&D spending time on a in surveying and costing recession came along and the with engineering, surveying Construction is a construction site is projects and gained Licentiate work dried up. and mathematical skills. There groundworks contractor beneficial. membership of City and Guilds. I’ve been with Gipping now are so many niches in ■ and offer a wide range of To see Rheanna talk about These qualifications are for five years, they are a great construction you just have to agricultural, her experience of work becoming obsolete, so I’m company and I haven’t looked have your eyes open and if you commercial, housing visit the R & D profile on currently taking an NVQ Level back. My work with Gipping work for a good organisation and utilities services. www.icanbea.org.uk 6 in construction management. focusses on building bespoke you can move into different I try and get out to It’s an eight month private houses. Recent projects roles – as I did in becoming a each job at least once programme that I started at the include a house in Orford on the site manager. a fortnight and I turn of the year. It is run by the coast and a private residence at One problem is that the liaise with contract CITB and once a month I visit a Great Bealings near industry is so short of the class held at the Barbican in Woodbridge. I’m currently skilled trades that employers London and we look at different site manager on a job in are reluctant to promote these aspects of being a Braintree where we are people into management. manager on a building 21 flats. I manage Today you tend to find less construction site everything from start to finish managers that are skills-based such as including the site engineering – they tend to be people who health & and surveying, setting out the have gained qualifications in safety levels and steel work and management. organising the materials and I’ve been into schools as a workers. CITB ambassador and I feel more can be done to inspire What is the best thing about young people to consider a working in construction? career in construction. I enjoy the variety of work – it’s We desperately need skilled not like you are stuck in the bricklayers and plumbers, as a same office all the time. If you well as those with a background work in construction you work in engineering, IT and the on different projects, on sciences. East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, March 21, 2017 BusinessEast Monthly 19 www.eadt.co.uk

How technology is Construction sector transforming construction - at a glance Increasingly those entering the construction sector have to learn to use the latest digital innovations, which are transforming the way people are working says Matt Smith at Ipswich-based Concertus Design & Property Consultants

One of the latest digital innovations in the construction sector is Building 117,000 Information Modelling or BIM, which houses to be built moves the design discipline away from in Suffolk and the traditional 2D geometry-focussed Norfolk by 2026 plans and elevations, into full 3D visualisation.

Software This means the design can be managed, via software, so that no two objects occupy the same space. Sounds obvious, but design clashes have historically been the main reason that costly Concertus team members using VR re-works have had to be undertaken during the construction process. Also significant is that the decisions on projects, as well as Government has mandated that “All providing a ‘third dimension’ to present centrally procured public sector to clients. projects will require the implementation of BIM at Level 2”. 3,970 Feasibility Concertus has been developing The past method of ‘pace it out and new people are needed to join the designs in the 3D environment for many mark it on the ground’ has been construction industry in the East of years and in addition to the information transferred to a 3D environment. So, England each year provided by the BIM Level 2 process, it’s although VR could be seen as a gimmick use has led to further developments in tool, it transfers the 2D presentation presentation methods. drawings taken from the 3D Two of the biggest are AR environment into something that (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual clients find more tangible and easier to New jobs over the next five years: Reality), both of which are tools being understand. used to help make clear informed Essentially, today’s design teams are embracing this as a huge step in presenting early feasibility information and ultimately assisting in the final ‘sign off’ of the project prior to starting on site. Also, whether refurbishment, 19,550 extension or standalone, clients are enjoying being able to visualise and visit their new spaces, before they are built. Other digital technologies influencing the design process are Moisture Mapping and 3D Topographical Surveys - both used by specialists when obtaining survey information.

USEFUL WEBSITES Up to I www.icanbea.org.uk Follow and learn about leading employers in the sector 37% of new entrants I www.newanglia.co.uk/new-anglia-youth-pledge-marque into the industry The Youth Pledge Marque is awarded to businesses in Norfolk and that came from Suffolk who are committed to supporting the future workforce higher education 5,600 I are women while www.apprenticeshipssuffolk.org 15% construction-related roles Find out about apprenticeship opportunities of civil could be created at Sizewell engineers and C nuclear plant in Suffolk I 20% www.its-mygo.co.uk of architects during the peak construction Mygo is a modern youth employment service for 16-24 year olds are also female looking for training or education-based in ipswich and across Suffolk phase, if approved.

I www.goconstruct.org Comprehensive info about careers in construction and what qualifications can take you where There are 180 different roles in construction, so there is something for everyone including: I www.newanglia.co.uk/new-anglia-enterprise-adviser-network „ Trade supervisors „ Groundworkers „ Electricians Find out more about the benefits of becoming a New Anglia Enterprise Adviser – working with schools and colleges to help „ Project managers „ Scaffolders „ Bricklayers raise the career ambitions and work prospects of young people in „ Technical, IT & office staff „ Quantity Surveyors „ Carpenters Norfolk and Suffolk. „ Town Planners „ Architects „ Civil Engineers 20 BusinessEast Monthly East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, March 21, 2017 www.eadt.co.uk

Sector skills report: Construction

WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE The Educators All the main further education colleges in Suffolk offer courses in construction. There are introductory courses where students can ‘People often move from one trade to get a taste of a number of trades before specialising through to higher level management and business administration diplomas another until they find their niche’ that prepare people for a management role in construction. All the colleges emphasise that they work closely with employers Christine Harvey, executive to deliver skills they need, often through apprenticeships. architecture, quantity surveying the infrastructure to support director of science, technology, Likewise, all the colleges spoke of the growing number of and commercial them such as schools, engineering and construction opportunities that exist in the region’s construction sector for management. doctors, shops, etc. All of young people with the right skills. this will add to the What construction courses do What routes are current skills you offer? there into the shortages within construction. We offer courses ranging from a construction Level 1 Introduction to Students can always Construction right up to a sector? choose to leave at THE APPRENTICE management degree in the There are many various stages of the construction and built routes - often a programme from environment. Often people student on a trade Level 2 upwards and think construction is just course will start out get a well-paid ‘I’ve become more based on the three traditional thinking they want respectable job within building trades: carpentry & to be a bricklayer but an ever-growing industry joinery, brickwork, and painting by the time they have through the apprenticeship professional and switched on’ & decorating but there is a finished their Level 3 programme. plethora of choices and people qualification they often move from one trade to are choosing to go into What facilities do you have? Charlie Nugent, 19, now lives in another until they find their employment and study a degree At the Milburn Campus we have Bishops Stortford where he chosen niche. in construction on a part time a range of state of the art workshops moved for work. He previously For those who like to do a bit of basis. Other students will progress that reflect industrial practice lived in Diss and was a pupil at everything, we offer a relatively into employment via the alongside the technologies that before new qualification: a Diploma in apprenticeship route and support the practical activities. entering the world of work and Maintenance Operations. We some will go straight onto site. We have ambitious plans to develop enrolling on a carpentry and also offer a BTec Diploma in Milburn Park and engage students joinery apprenticeship at West Construction and the Built Are there opportunities for in a wide range of skills that are Suffolk College in Bury St Environment which tends to be a young people? not currently available such as Edmunds. feeder route for the students The New Anglia Local Enterprise heritage building skills, thatching, wanting to progress into Partnership has a strategic plan to lime plastering and also modern Why did you go into construction management such build 117,000 building methods such as modular construction? as site supervisors, new homes in the region. All builds, fenestration, eco builds, rain Many members of my family sustainability, planning, of these builds will also need water recycling etc. work in construction – one of my uncles is a plasterer and another uncle runs the building company that I’m now working for. During the school holidays, I used to go down for the week and help out – it’s always been there. Tell us about your ‘Regional growth in construction is apprenticeship When I finished my apprenticeship in July I will anticipated and we are responding to this’ qualify with a Level 3 City and Guilds and NVQ 3 in carpentry Paul Padda, assistant equipped workshops growth anticipated in this sector and joinery. principal at Great have training booths/ will also be explored as options for Going from school to the Yarmouth College, part stations, classrooms the newly merged college. We are workplace on an apprenticeship, of East Coast College attached and are also developing a groundworks it makes you much more managed by apprenticeship meeting with different people and professional and switched on. I’ve students using getting to know them. What construction certainly become more confident safe simulated Are you seeing more and learnt to talk to people course do you site supervision opportunities for young through the people I’ve met and What do you enjoy about offer? practices. Our people? tutors are worked with. carpentry and joinery? East Coast College Regional growth in construction industry specialists College is very good – you learn I like working with wood, it’s a provides professional is anticipated and we are with a wealth of different techniques and I’ve put sustainable material and it nice and technical training responding to this with the experience to impart to that together with what I’ve to work with. I also enjoy seeing in all the major trades and development of our course offer; our students and strong picked up at work. I go to college the finished product that I have single disciplines and diversifying to support modern links to employers for experience once a week where we do some helped create - taking the timber multi-trade. For students that are practices whilst providing opportunities and potential theory and make sure our all way to the finished article unsure about their chosen route students with the basic skills and apprenticeships. portfolios are up to date, as well when it is sprayed, lacquered or they can join our “Get into” study technical training required by as learn joinery in the workshop. laminated. There is satisfaction programmes which provide a taste employers. We are developing our It’s a chance to learn new in seeing the customer looking of all the courses in a given How do apprenticeships fit into apprenticeship frameworks into techniques and to see how other pleased with the finished article Faculty plus maths and English all of this? more flexible standards to people might tackle a job. I enjoy and getting good feedback. where required. All of the courses The college offers apprenticeship accommodate employer needs and provide opportunities for work frameworks in all trades: site industry trends whilst forming experience and progression to carpentry, bench joinery, stronger links with industry to higher level courses such as HNDs plumbing, electrical, painting and develop pre-apprenticeship or higher apprenticeships. decorating and bricklaying. We programmes where possible. We are also exploring modern are pleased to see a growing What facilities do you have? building practices and those that number of young women involved Both campuses in Lowestoft and promote energy efficiency in our in our construction trades and Great Yarmouth have impressive, homes, such as water and heat note a number of our students, dedicated workshops for each of salvage systems, biomass boilers. once qualified, leaving to start up the main trades: plumbing, Business service trades such as businesses of their own or to electrical, brickwork, carpentry site supervision, surveying and support employers on a freelance and joinery. All of our fully interior design in support of the basis. East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, March 21, 2017 BusinessEast Monthly 21 www.eadt.co.uk

EASTON AND OTLEY COLLEGE THE FABRIC FIRST INSTITUTE

Jackie Richards, director of lead Fabric First principles which ‘The building partner, Whole House Energy focus on the actual building itself rather than the more The Fabric First Institute is a common approach to ‘low trade is in project delivered in partnership energy’ which only considers with industry specialists and renewable technology as a bolt funded by the New Anglia Skills on to an otherwise standard desperate need Deal Programme provided by built (leaky and inefficient) Norfolk County Council, Suffolk building. of new recruits’ local authorities and the Skills The project has developed and Funding Agency. The project piloted a City and Guilds Lynsey Wilson, curriculum has enabled courses to be Accredited module for students director developed by specialists and run alongside a one day course for at Easton campus just outside contractors and subcontractors What construction course do Norwich in the new based on Passivhaus principles. construction centre over the Anyone that is interested in low you offer? coming months. energy building from a pricing In terms of the Otley campus, we The courses are designed to to hands on delivery would be are one of the only places in the trades that we teach to see which that external firms no longer take teach both students and suitable to attend. The courses region to teach courses in one they like the most. on trainees at the age of 16 – they construction industry are well booked up plastering. We also offer We have a course called prefer students who have gained professionals to build using and the funded brickwork, carpentry, joinery, Building Construction Operatives around 18 months experience training will painting and decorating that are (BCO) that gives learners a range before they are taken on. come to an end taught in both Suffolk and of different skills in carpentry, during the Norfolk. The amount of work that joinery and electrical installation. Are you seeing more summer this is available is unprecedented. After the initial part of the course, opportunities for young year. the student gets the chance to people? What facilities do you have? specialise in a specific trade. There are so many opportunities At the Otley campus, we have a We also have short courses for for young people at the moment - great facility that celebrated ten those wanting additional skills, the building trade is in desperate years of being open last October. full and part time options and we need of new recruits. At the Norfolk campus of the are also a big advocate and teacher We are very keen to work with college, a new construction of Apprenticeship qualifications. industry as much as possible and facility was opened in November In addition to this, we have a we host a variety of different 2015 with the aim of training 300 schools programme for 14 to 16 events throughout the year. Most new tradespeople by 2018. year olds. recently in Suffolk, a host of plumbing businesses came along What routes are there into the How do apprenticeships fit into to talk to our students about construction sector? all of this? apprenticeship opportunities and The best advice that we can give to We work closely with many we have recently started a link a young person who is considering businesses across the region. The with the demolition industry who Easton and Otley College a career in construction is to come main change that we have seen in use our facilities to teach industry students Rhys Watkins, along and have a go at some of the relation to these qualifications is health and safety qualifications. above, and Shamim Ahmed

Construction at Lowestoft College. ‘Many apprentices go on to start their own business’

Nadia Cenci, business welder training simulator. development manager This teaches welding techniques within a safe, What courses do you offer in immersive, virtual construction? environment and shows our The courses on offer at Suffolk commitment to providing local New College in construction employers with a high-quality, are varied and are supported advanced training by excellent facilities and environment for their workshops - they include apprentices. plumbing, carpentry, brickwork, electrical and How do apprenticeships fit painting & decorating. into all of this? Plumbing and electrical Our Level 1 in Construction Are there opportunities for apprenticeships are Multi-skills leads students to young people? particularly popular with our an intermediate There is definitely an increase young people, as well as other apprenticeship, with Level 2 in apprenticeship opportunities work-based learning students going into advanced overall as the government apprenticeships, such as apprenticeship. Level 3 could makes this their focus for a business administration, which go onto a higher apprenticeship viable alternative to university. supports roles in the or university. Many apprentices go on to start construction industry. We also have a Traineeship their own business and We are about to open a programme in multi-trades, in employers enjoy starting a new Fabrication and Welding partnership with other young person on their journey centre in the College. Students organisations such as Mygo, to within the construction and apprentices from a wide upskill, train and coach young industry. The new levy system range of our construction people back into work, an and standards that are coming and engineering courses will apprenticeship or full time into force this year will further benefit from these facilities training.Our apprentices have encourage more, larger you can’t find anywhere else gone on to win regional and companies to include in Ipswich. Part of our offering national competitions in apprenticeships in their is a brand new virtual reality construction skills. workforce.