Industry consulted on new ECITB strategy for engineering construction skills

The ECITB is inviting engineering construction companies to have their say on its new strategy to steer industry skills over the next three years.

The employer-led Government skills body has identified a number of challenges and opportunities for industry, most pressingly, the need to grow workforce numbers for upcoming projects, especially in light of new targets for the energy sector set out in the government’s new British Energy Security Strategy.

The consultation process on the new ECITB strategy 2023-25 started this week with an employer workshop in Aberdeen, with further workshops taking place nationwide over the next month. Over 16 workshops will be held in total, with employers, providers and the UK and devolved governments respectively.

Lynda Armstrong, Chair of the ECITB

Lynda Armstrong, Chair of the ECITB, said: “The engineering construction industry faces a significant amount of project activity on the horizon. This is already manifesting in labour shortage concerns and the industry is on the verge of a skills shortage crisis.

The ECITB is at the forefront of tackling this challenge and our proposed strategy sets out how we will work together with employers, training providers and governments to ensure that industry gets the support required.

“Our plans include tackling skills shortages by broadening new entrant pathways, introducing a new Net Zero grant to prepare the existing workforce to deliver energy transition projects and shifting the dial on diversity and inclusion. We also want to make training more accessible through blended learning and greater provider support.

It is vital that we get feedback from our levy payers and our stakeholders on our strategic plans. Your views will directly inform the final strategy and our proposed levy rates for 2023-25, on which we will consult levy payers in the autumn.”

Download the presentation pack delivered at the ECITB Strategy Workshops via the link below.

We are seeking views on the new strategy and would like to know:

• • Are the challenges and opportunities facing industry that we have identified the right ones?
  • Are there any further opportunities we should consider?
  • Are the strategic objectives right? Which ones should we prioritise?
  • In what areas should we prioritise funding?

Please respond to the consultation via strategyreview@ecitb.org.uk by Friday 10th June.

A full list of workshops across the UK is below.