BACH Conference 19 May 2022 – outline programme

Funding the Training for Construction’s SMART Green Future

Aim of the Conference

SMART Digital methods and technology as well as green skills with also the move to a larger proportion of construction projects being delivered by off-site manufacturing techniques is driving a fundamental change in the skills needed in the industry.

To support this BACH’s members will need investment in resources and equipment so they are able to support the training needs of the sector. Crucially they will also need to be able to recruit tutors and assessors with the updated knowledge and skill to train our learners at competitive pay rates.

BACH’s survey report published in February this year clearly found that overall, there is insufficient investment funding available to FE Colleges to achieve the industry’s needs. There is also a shortage of tutors and assessors and a major gap between when Colleges are able to pay and competitive rates in the sector.

The survey report stated that a wide range of urgently needed changes must happen for BACH members to tackle the challenges and be able to support the industry so that employers get the people with the skills it needs, including:

• Funding rates to set to adequate levels to fully cover the additional costs for resources, materials and staffing;
• Capital investment is increased so that all areas of the country have proper access to adequate funds;
• CITB levy is leveraged wherever practical to address the challenges and provide support to the training providers and the employers; and
• Employers and the Colleges work together at the local level to share resources such as seconding or guesting people from industry to contribute to teaching, particularly in the new digital, off-site and green skills part of the curriculum.

This Conference will bring together BACH members with key employers from the Construction Leadership Council’s People & Skills Group, together with representatives from CITB to discuss these challenges and agree on what practical action is needed to address them.

AGENDA
9:30-10:00 Registration

10:00-10:05 Welcome and Introduction Lee Mills, BACH Chair

10:05-10:15 Background to the Challenges
Workforce trends and results from the BACH Survey Graham Hasting-Evans, BACH President

10:15-10:40 Industry’s Requirements
Outlining the industry’s changing methods of work and the implications for skills in the future
Mark Reynolds, CEO Mace Group and Chair of CLC People & Skills Group
10:40-11:00 CITB’s Plan
CITB’s plans to support the industry and make Levy grants available
Tim Balcon, CEO CITB
11:10-11:30 Break

11:30-12:30 Workshop 1: Investment in Resources and Equipment
Working groups of members with a CITB or CLC representative
Facilitation by an NEC member

Questions

Groups are asked to select a spokesperson to feedback on:

• Identify precisely what are the types of equipment, materials and resources they need and what typically this might cost.
• Identify where investment must come from and what are the blockages to obtaining adequate levels of investment.
• Identify solutions to the gaps in investment funding.

12:30-1:00 Feedback and discussion Graham Hasting-Evans, BACH President

1:00-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:30 Workshop 2: Staffing Shortages
Working groups of members with a CITB or CLC representative
Facilitation by an NEC member

Groups are asked to select a spokesperson to feedback on:

• Identify what gaps they have in staff skills, including knowledge of SMART methods, green skills etc.
• Identify all the current approaches being used by Colleges to fill skill gaps.
• Identify a wide range of flexible models to close the skills gaps.
• Identify solutions to fill the staff shortages.

2:30-3:00 Feedback and discussion David Wilkins, Bedford College

3:00 Close Lee Mills, BACH Chair