The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has committed £10,400 of funding for an innovative new scheme from the Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force (CCATF) to provide more young people with apprenticeships with FMB member firms.

The funding will provide 10 young people, who are in their first year on full time courses at further education colleges, with a 16 week work experience placement with an FMB member as part of the 'Pathway to Construction' scheme. It is anticipated that the work experience will lead to a full apprenticeship.

Currently thousands of young people who start their training in construction and the built environment do not continue to work in the industry or end up working in the informal economy as they are unable to achieve NVQ level 2 because they lack on-site experience.

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The 'Pathway to Construction' Industry Pilot scheme aims to create 500 extra work experience places over the next two years. The scheme is being spearheaded by the CCATF and is initially entirely funded by the construction industry. The CCATF is seeking further funding from various industry organisations and companies. It is also hoped that the Government will match the industry funding so that a total of 1000 young people can be given placements and achieve a recognised qualification.

Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB said: "The construction industry has been facing a serious skills shortage for a long time. It is disappointing that in an industry which has always favoured apprenticeships and which has around 192,000 companies, less than 10 per cent employ an apprentice. In comparison around 22 percent of FMB members employ an apprentice and we encourage all FMB members to offer training and development. However the initial cost of a new entrant trainee can be prohibitive, which is why we are pleased to do our part in funding this scheme."

Geoff Lister, Chairman of the CCATF said: "This is the first step in a major new initiative that brings together diverse construction related bodies to help fund the work experience of young people in our industry. I hope that this initiative will go some way to alleviating the skills shortage that will be faced by the construction industry as we emerge from this recession."

(CD/GK)