Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, has called on Government to put employers at the heart of education policy for future skills and training to help Government meet its ambitious targets on apprenticeships.

The call to put employers at the heart of education policy came after the Industry Training Board was called, alongside the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, to give evidence at the Education Bill Select Committee, which is currently passing through Parliament.

In a broad ranging and lively debate, Mark Farrar shared industry views on growth, skills, training and apprenticeships provision with key political figures including Skills Minister, John Hayes and Shadow Minister for Education, Kevin Brennan.

Central to the debate was the need to match supply of apprenticeships with market demand, the need to look for new ways of working to help employers take on an apprentice, and the advice provided to young people considering a construction career.

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Speaking after the Committee hearing, Mr Farrar said: "The construction industry has changed, and traditional training pathways and education policy is no longer appropriate for modern construction employers, who are battling with the impact of the recession and the need to diversify.

"Additionally, demand for construction apprentices is down by a third and that’s why we're asking Government to support our industry, especially small and medium sized businesses. This is being done by developing new, innovative ways which will enable them to take full advantage of skills and assist them in recruiting the talented apprentices they need to stay in business and boost their bottom line.

"Apprenticeships and training are central in helping businesses get the right skills and knowledge in place to deliver growth, but for Government to achieve the numbers they are seeking we need to look for new and flexible opportunities for employers.

"As the Industry Training Board, we are looking at a range of measures to encourage the take up of apprentices, for example by looking at ways to further develop Group Training Associations. Only by being innovative and working together will we achieve the target of recruiting the 200,000 new entrants by 2015."

(CD/KMcA)