10
LEEDS COLLEGE OF BUILDING PRINCIPAL TAKES CASE FOR EXTRA SKILLS INVESTMENT TO WESTMINSTER
Leaders from across West Yorkshire have been speaking with MPs at Westminster as part of a national campaign to bring skills to the forefront of the government ’ s agenda .
Principals from Leeds College of Building ( the only specialist general further education construction college in the UK ), Leeds City College , Keighley , Bradford , Kirklees , Shipley and Calderdale colleges , joined hundreds of leaders from across the country in calling for fairer funding , a right to lifelong learning , and support for local skills shortages .
Following 12 years of declining funding for adults and young people , a 2022 report from the Open University and British Chambers of Commerce found that more than 68 per cent of SMEs are currently facing skills shortages , rising to 86 per cent in large organisations .
Nikki Davis , Leeds College of Building Principal & CEO , said : “ Colleges are vital in addressing significant skills gaps across the economy , including the next generation of skilled construction professionals . Research shows that around a quarter of a million extra construction workers will be needed by 2026 to meet growing demands on the UK sector , and to counter an ageing workforce .
“ Without additional investment in further education , we will not be able to fill critical shortages in priority areas - such as net-zero carbon emissions and Modern Methods of
Construction ( MMC ) - and deliver the diverse labour market the country needs .”
Bill Jones , Executive Principal at Leeds City College , said : “ Education , particularly further education , has been central to the skills agenda for some time , and the sector has been tirelessly campaigning in order to get the necessary support from government to successfully close the skills gap .
“ All the industries where skills shortages are being felt most acutely are bridged by Level 4 or 5 skills and qualifications , which are delivered in further education colleges . We will continue campaigning collectively to keep FE front of mind and to remind government of the important role it plays .”
As part of the campaign on 1 March , the principals were involved in a panel discussion , organised by the Future Skills Coalition , that focused on how the lack of funding for colleges is having a direct impact on the sector ’ s ability to deliver the skilled workers the economy needs .
According to the Learning & Work Institute ( L & W ), 9 million working-aged adults in England have low basic skills in literacy or numeracy , including 5 million who have low skills in both .
www . constructionviewonline . co . uk