Chamber constructs apprenticeship programme for the future

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is launching a Construction Group Training Association (GTA), which is a unique partnership with Local Authorities to maximise local economic benefit from public/private investment and create new Apprenticeship jobs.

The Construction (GTA) is, therefore, the first model of its kind in the North West. It is a not-for-profit, Chamber-led shared apprenticeship scheme, which aims to increase construction-sector apprenticeships by 500 within Greater Manchester over the next two to three years.

Over 150 stakeholders, including representatives from Local Authorities, Transport for Greater Manchester, Housing Associations and the construction industry, will gather together to launch the Construction GTA on Wednesday 15 February at The Lowry in Salford Quays.

Approximately 50 North West construction firms have already signed up to the project and all ten Local Authority Chief Executives have given their backing to the GTA. The initiative will be governed by a board of LA representatives, plus a Contractor's Council of nominated industry representatives.

Chair of the Contractor's Council, Callum Tuckett, UK Head of Construction at Laing O' Rourke, said:" While trying to secure the long-term future of the three million people our industry already employs, we must focus on developing the right skills for the future. To do this, we must harness the collective power of our industry to explore where opportunities will lie, and jointly develop the skills that will be needed to fulfil those opportunities."

The Construction GTA will work with Local Authorities, training providers and colleges, job agencies, the National Apprenticeship Service and employers to recruit apprentices on to the programme using a competency-based approach.

The apprentices will be initially employed by the GTA and provided with a placement for the 'on-the-job' training. When each placement comes to an end, the GTA will collaborate with the partners to ensure that the apprentices' training continues on another site.

Clive Memmott, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: "The aim of the GTA is to bring contractors together to create a range of flexible work placements, enabling the Apprentice to work on more than one contract at a time whilst being employed by the GTA. This will give young people a greater number of opportunities to complete an Apprenticeship, at a time when there are still skills shortages within the construction industry, and provide sustainability and stability for the future."