Skills & Training is vital for the future of the Northern Ireland construction industry

CITB NI are focused on skills and training and we work with contractors, professional and trade bodies to support training initiatives and skills development for the overall benefit of the industry.

We believe that the key to success is partnerships. This approach helps us to identify future opportunities as well as manage the challenges that face our industry – together. It is our role to provide the support and services needed to ensure local businesses are equipped with all the right skills. We also continue to focus on working with contractors, professional and trade bodies to support training and skills development for the overall benefit of the industry and our collective clients. As part of our ongoing partnership approach, we work with employer bodies and federations to promote training in action. We have worked closely with Mineral Products Association NI (MPANI) and employers to successfully deliver a Level 4 Supervisor course and technical workshop aimed at the Highway Repair & Maintenance sector, as well as a series of concrete handling workshops as part of our Training in Partnership Programme. Recently we announced the development of a brand new, free training facility at our Nutts Corner location called Simulated Construction Site. The facility will support with real-life training as well as support the industry’s needs for a skilled and competent workforce through pre apprenticeship programmes, apprenticeships, FE / HE construction courses and upskilling of the existing workforce. Work has already commenced on the site, with materials kindly provided by our partners MPANI. The Simulated Construction Site will provide a facility that will encourage the practical application of a range of construction activities. The Northern Ireland Construction Industry has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, BREXIT and rising inflation costs. However, both economic and industry growth is expected to return over the next number of years. CITB NI’s support for training will continue to remain paramount over the upcoming years to serve our industry while it recovers and grows again. With the industry facing the ongoing challenges of skills shortages, an ageing workforce and poor perception, it is essential more than ever that the industry does more to successfully promote itself to young people, careers influencers and meet the future demands.

By way of influencing the skills of the future CITB NI will continue to promote construction to the younger generation, help them consider the varied pathways within the industry as well as being a serious career option for the future. We would strongly encourage CITB NI registered employers to undertake

From left: Barry Neilson (CEO CITB NI), Rachel McKeeman (CITB NI), Simon McDowell (Kilwaughter Minerals and Chair MPANI) and Gordon Best (Regional Director MPANI).

training and make use of our grant scheme to help improve skills within the workforce. The CITB NI training grant scheme offers direct grants to registered employers to support a wide range of training and qualifications for employees working in Northern Ireland. For further information on what we can do to help you and your construction training, log on to www.citbni.org.uk, like us on Facebook http://www.facebook. com/CITBNorthernIreland or follow the discussion on Twitter@ CITBNI, Instagram @CITB1 and LinkedIn http://linkd.in/1GBeyLf