News
Minister Launches Second Phase of ‘Upskilling’ Initiative for Construction Sector
Minister for Employment & Learning, Dr Stephen Farry today has launched the second phase of the ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce’ initiative at Nutts Corner Training Centre.
This ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce’ project aims to qualify 1000 currently unqualified, experienced, employed construction workers to NVQ Level 2, helping to increase productivity and meet the industry’s skills challenge.
The project is a joint initiative by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), CITB NI and the Joint Council for the Building & Civil Engineering Industry (NI).
Tandragee firm Bullivant Taranto qualified 48 candidates through the project and had the 500th candidate that achieved an NVQ through the first phase of the project since its launch in June 2012. Niall Woods, Operations Director from Bullivant Taranto said, “Bullivant Taranto Ltd is the UK and Ireland's foremost concrete and piling company providing industry leading standards, insight and innovation in design, manufacture, installation and service. We believe in investing in our people and the Qualifying the Existing Workforce project helped us qualify our staff. The project was easily administered with effective end results. We hope that we can further succeed in our sector with a stronger qualified workforce.”
Speaking at the Launch Dr Farry said, “Our main asset is our people. It is on the basis of their talents and skills that we will transform our economy, increase employment, raise productivity and compete globally. The ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce’ project has already recognised those skills amongst those in the construction sector. We congratulate Bullivant Taranto and all the companies and individuals involved in the project to date who have achieved a qualification. We are now and continuing with the second phase of the project to ensure we have a better skilled workforce which will assist to drive this industry and our economy forward. ”
Barry Neilson, Chief Executive, CITB NI said, “It is encouraging that in these economic times the ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce Project’ has been so successful and we are delighted to secure funding from DEL for the second phase in order to continue the momentum in the construction industry. Our research shows that the economy is turning the corner and the NI construction industry will benefit from that. It is therefore essential that we identify and address the skills and training needs of the workforce necessary for the long term future of the sector.”
For full details, a list of assessment Centre’s and occupations available, and to find out more about registering, log onto www.citbni.org.uk and follow the links to FREE NVQ’s or call us on 028 9082 5466.
Captions – Stacey Robinson, Bullivant Tarranto, Maurice Johnston, Chairman CITB NI, Minister Stephen Farry, Niall Woods, Bullivant Tarranto at the celebration of the 500th candidate and launch of next phase of the Qualifying the Existing Workforce