SSA
Sector Skills Agreement
Sector Skills Agreements fundamentally alter the way skills are demanded, delivered and developed throughout the UK. SSAs will enable government, employers, employee representatives and organisations who plan, fund and support education and training to work together to tackle the provision of skills around a common set of objectives. By mapping out exactly what skills employers need their workforce to have, and how these skills will be supplied, SSAs will ensure that the UK has the skilled workforce it needs to increase productivity and profitability, now and in the future.
The Sector Skills Agreement for the construction industry in Northern Ireland looks at various aspects of the Northern Ireland construction industry’s current and future performance and how this affects the skills and qualifications profile of the workforce. It also analyses areas where action needs to be taken to address skills gaps and shortages, and makes broad recommendations as to how these issues might be addressed. Consultation with industry and key stakeholders on the recommendations has led to the development of action plans to form the full Sector Skills Agreement. The SSA is effectively the means through which employers can make their views on skills and training heard. It is the channel through which employers can articulate which skills are required for the construction industry in NI to be effective, efficient and productive over the coming years.
Click here for the full SSA document
SSA for the Construction Industry in NI – Priorities
1. Attracting and Retaining Talent
1.1. Increase knowledge of and promote the construction industry to a diverse range of potential new entrants and their influencers
1.2. Work with stakeholders to influence school curriculum to meet the needs of employers, especially with regards to Essential Skills
1.3. Increase the value of new entrant qualifications amongst employers.
2. Developing Talent
2.1. Address skills gaps and shortages within the workforce, in particular, technical, practical and job specific skills
2.2. Encourage appropriate health and safety training, beyond the minimum required by legislation
2.3. Improve the literacy and numeracy levels of those in the industry
2.4. Increase skills in the area of sustainable construction and modern methods of construction
2.5. Increase the number of employees undertaking training and encourage individuals to train beyond the minimum level and that required by legislation, and to achieve the appropriate qualification.
3. Improving Business Performance
3.1. Increase employer and employee awareness of the economic benefits of training to encourage participation
3.2. Promote the need for suitably skilled staff for the upturn and skills for future growth
3.3. Improve management and leadership skills across the industry
4. Strengthening the Skills Infrastructure across Nations
4.1. Investigate ways to reduce the barriers to training experienced by employers.
4.2. Work with training providers to provide an appropriate range of relevant education and training which meets the needs of all employers, in particular specialist sectors
4.3. Continue to review qualifications, standards and training delivery for appropriateness.
There are eleven themed projects resulting from the SSA. You can find out more about many of these projects by clicking on the links below.
FeedBack
If you would like to comment on any aspect of the SSA or to get involved in SSA projects or reviews, please contact Karen Hunter by e-mail at karen.hunter@citbcsni.org.uk
Research & Development
- Employer consultation undertaken e.g. ConstructionSkills Employer Forum, Construction Skills Network, apprenticeship training, sustainability.
- Printed and distributed posters supporting sustainable construction.
- Carrying out research into traditional building craft skills (heritage sector).
- Employer Tracking Survey completed.
- LMI figures and documents produced and distributed to 250 stakeholders at All-Island Infrastructure Conference.
- Consultation on four Government policies completed.
Management & Leadership
- Survey into the management training needs of the industry has been completed and distributed.
- CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland’s Regional Training Advisers trained in Management & Leadership Network (MLN) products including M&L Lite and the Development Zone.
- MLN delivered a session on Management and Leadership training at a ConstructionSkills in NI / Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Business Improvement Group.
- Two events held in Management Month 2008, one for employers and one for training providers.
Professionals
- Pilot study undertaken using CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland’s Regional Training Advisers to engage with the professional services sector.
- Two newsletters targeted at professionals developed and distributed.
- Young Professionals Development Programme delivered in March / April 2008.
- Development day with professionals institutions held at University of Ulster.
- Member of Civil Engineering Industrial Liaison groups at both universities.
- Size and structure survey and training needs survey completed.
- Working in partnership with Institution of Civil Engineers on Bridge to Schools programme.
Equality & Diversity
- Migrant worker packs developed for employers and employees.
- Women in Construction network being developed.
- Third annual Women in Construction Seminar held February 2008.
- Equality Academy held in order to provide employers with up-to-date information and training on equality and diversity issues within their businesses.
Construction Qualifications Strategy (CQS)
- CQS NI Action Plan published.
- ConstructionSkills in NI Standards Group set up to facilitate delivery of CQS.
- Workshops held for training providers and employers to tackle negative perceptions of NVQs.
- Working on NVQ framework with the Department for Employment and Learning.
- Working with Centres of Excellence and the Construction Awards Alliance to support colleges in implementation of Construction Award.
- Audit of training provision being carried out – database of provision to be developed.
Essential Skills
- Poster circulated to employers, training providers and schools.
- Contextualised resources materials developed in partnership with the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) and DEL.
- Twenty four people supported through their skills matching phase of the ULF programme in construction.
Health & Safety
- Two Health & Safety booklets created specifically for bricklayers and joiners.
- Further books being developed for roofers, painters & decorators and plasterers.
- A Health & Safety matrix identifying training requirements against occupations is being developed.
- Seven Health & Safety training modules based on CSR and BuildSafe topics are being developed.
Training Culture
- Two Business Improvement Groups, delivered in partnership with the Federation of Master Builders, have taken place.
- Proposals being developed with key stakeholders to develop National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) projects on ISNI sites.
Recruitment & Careers
- 60 construction Ambassadors trained to promote careers in construction to schools.
- Statistics gathered for all new entrants from all training providers.
- Revised proposals for the Training for Success apprenticeship scheme developed.
- Working with the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) to fund and encourage teachers to take 3 day industry awareness placements.
Cross Sector Work
- Attend The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils (TASSC) meetings.
- Represent TASSC at Northern Region Workforce Development Forum.
- Chair TASSC sub-group on SME engagement and recently held event to engage intermediaries to spread SSC messages.
- Member of TASSC sub-groups on Management & Leadership, Labour Market Intelligence (LMI), Trade Unions.
- Member of Cross Sector Renewables group which has just launched research into training needs.
Training Provision
- Working with Workforce Development Forums to address training needs on a regional basis.
- Working with Centres of Excellence to look at college lecturer entry and qualification routes.