Case Study Linking Local Employment & Skills Plans with Education Providers

ContextCoventry City Council has been placing an increased focus on ensuring that major construction projects are maximising the potential benefits for residents. This is being achieved through the implementation of Skills and Employment Plan on major development sites in Coventry.

This includes forging stronger partnerships between the construction industry and local schools, as well as colleges and universities.

Skills and Employment Plan are specific to the development, however, they will all have similar outcomes encompassing areas such as, employment opportunities, work experience placements, local supply chain, apprenticeships and community engagement.

We believe children and young people should be given a good understanding of the range of career options available to them and an awareness of what skills theymight need to succeed. Without this, the transition from school to the workplace can be difficult, especially if a young person does not know what they want to do or how they can choose a career.

Education to Employment initiativeA key part of the Skills and Employment Plan is linking schools, colleges and universities to the major developments in Coventry. Throughout the implementation of these plans various schools within Coventry have engaged with construction contractors, and have been able to strengthen the partnerships between the education and the construction industry.

To date, 511 young people have received an educational visit to site. Additionally, 1,988 young people have been visited by one of our contractors for a curriculum talk or presentation.

We have tried to focus on linking learning opportunities to the curriculum, which helps children and young people learn skills in new ways. Work-related learning shows children what they learn in school is used and valued in the workplace. It has also helped young people build relationships, raise their ambitions and prepare them for the world of work.

Next stepsWith new developments and new projects planned, Skills and Employment Plan will continue to work with existing and new schools and colleges to show children and young people how important these learning opportunities can be.

What do the developers think?Phil Eves, Skills and Community Co-ordinator for the Midlands Region at BAM Construct UK said,

“Working with the local community forms part of our Enhancing Lives programme and supports the work we do at a strategic level. The Coventry City Council Skills and Employability Plan gave us a platform to engage with community groups, local schools, colleges and universities near our sites. We planned our delivery in partnership with Coventry City Council and this highlighted new collaborative partnerships with local schools and local community groups. We were also able record the amount of work apprentices and other trainees contributed to our sites. The centralised recording of this information, through the Skills and Employability Plan, was recognised as innovative by the Considerate Constructors meaning that we achieved our first maximum score this year.”

December 2017

Howes Howard Safety 1st