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Partnership wins £400k backing to fuel construction skills study

An education partnership, comprising of Gateshead College, Northumbria University and Derby College, has been awarded £400k to help address skills gaps in the construction industry.

Launching the BRIDGE Project, the money will be used to fund a research programme investigating why there are low numbers of women, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities enrolling on construction-related degree courses. Following the study, guidelines will then be published on tackling the problems.

The news follows the publication of the most recent Construction Skills Network report, which highlighted a growing skills shortage in the industry.

The study said 179,000 UK construction jobs will need to be filled from 2017-2021 to meet rapid growth in demand for infrastructure and housebuilding across the country.

Steve Logan, project consultant at the Gateshead College Skills Academy for Construction, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the funding from HEFCE and to be able to launch the BRIDGE project alongside Northumbria University and Derby College.

“This project is set to benefit those seeking professional, technical and management jobs by providing ways to encourage people from all backgrounds, sexes and ethnicities into higher education and a career in the construction industry.

“We want to address why construction degree courses aren’t attracting students from a range of backgrounds. This will, in turn, also benefit employers by providing more fresh talent to meet the upcoming demand for skilled and professionally qualified graduates.

“It’s a great example of how Gateshead College is taking its strong links with employers, listening to their concerns and then working in close partnership to find innovative solutions for complex skills issues.”

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