Strategic Framework – Civil Engineering and Construction by Fareham College

CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

fareham.ac.uk

01329 815 200 OUTSTANDING STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION | 1

FURTHER EDUCATION CONTEXT Fareham College’s Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC), offers industry-focused Apprenticeship programmes and professional training courses aimed at developing the next generation of civil engineers and groundworkers.

Our curriculum is being continually shaped by the research within the Solent LEP’s Economic Skills Plans, regional labour market information, and feedback from working collaboratively with employers.

Located in Lee-on-the-Solent, this unique facility is designed to provide a realistic, modern and professional training environment to deliver higher-level technical and professional qualifications. It is fully-equipped with the machinery, tools and materials to give the current workforce, Apprentices and trainees the resources to develop work-ready skills to enhance their careers.

As part of the Local Industrial Strategy, the Solent LEP has identified four 'grand challenges' that will form part of their strategic plan. These will allow the region to contribute to national economic growth over the coming decades:

The initial success of CETC was based on extensive employer support, backing and involvement. This has helped develop the centre and curriculum and has given us an essential foothold into a vital part of the Construction industry. We will continue to increase employer interest by developing any additional training requirements needed by the industry. Key Apprenticeship growth areas extend beyond the already successful Civil Engineering Operations: the Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor, Construction Quantity Surveying Technician, Construction Building, Rail Infrastructure, and Highways Operative. We will continue developing our links with the University of Portsmouth (UoP) and the Institute of Technology (IoT) by delivering Level 6 Higher Education Apprenticeships in Design and Construction Management.

/ Artificial intelligence and data; / Clean growth; / Future of mobility; / Ageing society. Fareham College will support the LEP in addressing these grand challenges by developing the skills, knowledge and behaviours required by the Solent business community. The whitepaper proposes: / Putting employers at the heart of the system; / Investing in higher technical qualifications; / Making sure people can access training and learning throughout their lives; / Reforming funding and accountability for providers; / Supporting excellent teaching in further education.

Environmental Technologies will be developed to support the governments ambition to “build back better” and “build back greener”. Advances in technology are revolutionising this sector, providing civil engineers with long-lasting smart materials, sensors embedded in intelligent buildings, smart electrical grids and more; indeed, one recent trend is for developing zero-energy housing, using double-skin facades to insulate houses. Electrical and Electronic Equipment Engineering and Electrotechnical Engineering specialisms will support the sustainability drive in the sector. CETC will also offer an increasing range of short retraining courses which play a vital role in working with the JobCentre Plus (JCP), Department of Working Pensions (DWP) and Hampshire County Council (HCC) to support the unemployed to enter the Civil Engineering and Construction industry.

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INDUSTRY CONTEXT It is widely recognised that the Civil Engineering and Construction industry is struggling against a widespread skill and staff shortage. Technology is developing, and the global population is growing at a vast pace. Therefore, it is vital that relevant training is provided to ensure the industry has the capacity and ability to maintain and sustain many crucial aspects of our lives. According to a 2019 Engineering UK report, 124,000 engineers and technicians will be needed annually up to 2024, while 79,000 Civil Engineering-related roles are expected to emerge per year to cope with the demand. Ensuring that we have enough people with the right skills and experience brings a more significant number and greater diversity of young people into engineering. A considerable emphasis is required to upskill and reskill the current workforce for the present and future workplace - this includes digital skills and the ability to think and work across traditional disciplinary boundaries. The coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed all industries, employers and the Civil Engineering and Construction sectors. Whilst the effects of the pandemic are expected to impact industries for years to come, Civil Engineering and Construction will play a key role in building a resilient future for the UK. CETC aims to be at the forefront of delivering the industry’s future needs, including infrastructure, decarbonisation, and maintenance projects. In turn, this will upgrade our hospitals, schools, and road network, make public buildings greener and help the UK achieve its aspirations of achieving Net Zero by 2050.

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FAREHAM COLLEGE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Respond to policy change and economic drivers to ensure financial resilience for future growth and investment;

Deliver innovative and flexible teaching, learning and assessment making best use of technology and blended learning;

Financial resilience will have to remain our greatest focus. We will need to concentrate on securing greater market share, identifying new revenue opportunities and operating more efficiently. It is likely we will continue to face financial pressures in some aspect of the business over the period of this strategic plan. Partnership and collaboration will be key in to strengthening our financial resilience. Partnership and collaboration, in line with recommendations from the FE Whitepaper, ‘Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth’, will become an increasingly important strategy to strengthen our financial resilience.

Over the lockdown period we have seen the capability of online and blended learning. We should now build this in to everyday teaching, learning and assessment to further enhance and extend the excellent teaching we already have in place. Our short-term strategy must include the flexibility to continue to deliver all or part of some programmes via online learning in cases of further or recurrent lockdown measures.

Provide excellent customer service and support which adds real value to our future-focussed students, Apprentices and employers;

Set and maintain high expectations for students’ progress and employers’ future success.

Covid-19 has sent a shockwave through the economy and has massively interrupted the learning of a generation. Our services and support to all our customers must focus on preparing them to navigate whatever the future holds. Many workers made redundant may be looking to change careers and our services should support them in the advice we offer and the training we supply.

Our success is determined by our reputation; setting and maintaining high expectations of the success of our students and Apprentices secures our reputation as the professional and technical education provider of choice in the region.

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CIVIL ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION KEY FOCUS AREAS

3: Technology Advances in technology have also paved the way for introducing increasingly 'smart' building and highway techniques.

Sustainability

Intelligent use of data

Automation

Key focus areas

Advances in user experience

Introducing drones into the Construction process to scan building sites means builders can analyse weak spots and collect high-resolution images to input into photogrammetry systems, and from there into Building Information Models (BIM). There's no doubt that technology has already changed the Construction industry. Our ability to communicate via mobile technology and the Cloud has already allowed us to create a much more streamlined Construction process.

Technology

1: Focus on sustainability Advances in technology are revolutionising this sector, providing civil engineers with long-lasting smart materials, sensors embedded in intelligent buildings, smart electrical grids and more. One recent trend is developing zero-energy housing, using double-skin facades to insulate houses. This will support the governments push to "build back better" and "build back greener." 2: Advances in user experience This will include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Automation and 3D/4D Environment building. One of these technologies is the concept of augmented reality, in which future owners can view the entire finished environment before the build begins. This helps improve the trust between the customer and the company, ensuring they get a clear idea of what they are buying. The idea of automation is gaining momentum. The trend is for more and more houses to have complete control of light, temperature, climate, and security through customers mobile devices, improving the habitability of buildings.

Essentially an intelligent 3D modelling process, it lets engineers create virtual models of their designs, making it easier for people to build and maintain everything from bridges to electricity networks. It also has vast potential for civil engineers, making for a faster and more streamlined design process and giving all parties involved in the Construction of civil amenities the chance to see what their design will look like in real life. 4: Automated machines Through Artificial Intelligence (AI), machines can, for example, build an entire wall by fitting the ceramic blocks with a very low margin of error. Another advantage is that the use of this robotic equipment reduces the risk of accidents with workers. 5: Intelligent use of data The Internet of Things (IoT) allows the interconnection and collection of endless data of items used in our daily lives, providing insights into their use and income. In Civil Construction, the Internet of Things (IoT) interconnects sensors connected to machinery, equipment, employees and management systems that control inputs and processes. More than optimising the inspection of Construction sites, this is a trend that will significantly increase the managerial capacity and, consequently, the market performance of the Construction companies, which will become much more effective in their activities.

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STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Our strategic prorities ain to: Reinvigorate the industry's image, invest in our staff, facilities and equipment to ensure that we remain the provider of choice for all Civil Engineering and Construction training. CETC aims to prepare our learners for whatever the future may be. We will: 1: Provide industry-specific training to our partners. This will be achieved by; / Understanding our customers' needs in order to build and maintain an outstanding provision / Employing people with relevant industry knowledge and experience whilst continuing to upskill our existing workforce that meets the changing landscape of the industry.

4: Maximise the financial contribution of CETC through efficient use of funding. This will be achieved by; / Successfully meeting our financial targets and increasing the market share to ensure CETC is the provider of choice / Seeking feedback from employers to ensure we meet the demands of current and future training needs / Developing efficient training models that combine traditional and online delivery methods / Develop new programmes such as Apprenticeship standards and T Levels. 5: Develop an inclusive culture that promotes key agendas such as health and safety, safeguarding, equality and diversity and opportunities.

2: Develop strong engagement and business links between schools and employers. This will be achieved by; / Engaging and developing collaboration groups that target teachers and parents / Effective promoting of the Civil Engineering industry through our employers and successful Apprentices. 3: Deliver an outstanding provision that meets the needs of the Civil Engineering and Construction industry both locally and nationally through the services, delivery, training and support we provide. This will be achieved by; / Identifying skills gaps and future industry requirements / Recognising employer training against the standards, using the resources available and identifying training needs effectively / Influencing innovation through technology and advanced equipment / Engaging with key Civil Engineering organisations, especially related to the five key focus areas.

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OPENING UP THE TALENT POOL With the demands nationally for the development of roads, civil utilities and housing, the Civil Engineering sector faces a skills shortage in entrants into the profession to make up the growing skills gap or keep up with the level of demand. In addition, widening the talent pool beyond the traditional engineering routes such as IT and Software specialists will help develop the smarter use of technology. We will continue our recruitment drive to attract and retain relevant industry skills and provide opportunities for our existing staff to upskill and refresh their knowledge/skills.

Training in the Construction industry 1. Recognising the challenges in further education 2. Develop a Construction skills infrastructure 3. Focus on higher-level training and skills.

Role of employers in developing the workforce of the future 1. Aligning skills availability 2. Provide access to experienced employees and equipment 3. Skills gaps and meeting the needs of the future workforce.

Attracting and retaining talent 1. Work Ready Skills 2. Support a diverse workforce 3. Promotion of the sector (includes Advice and guidance, Gatsby Benchmarks) 4. Environmental factors that contribute to retention issues.

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OPPORTUNITIES Establish an industry-led Centre of Excellence for Environmental Technologies in the Solent to develop programme pathways post-16 and support small businesses to 'green up'. In the near future, the 'smart home' will give wireless control of these products and link their requirements closer. To meet the needs of these 'smart' products, it is essential that the engineer is IT literate and understands all aspects of connectivity, with the ability to make and troubleshoot IP connections to routers, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections,

in both domestic and commercial situations. The engineer must also be capable of the usage of "Apps". Technology is developing rapidly, and the range of products requiring the engineer's skills will expand and require regular knowledge and skill development. The importance of developing the Civil Engineering, Engineering and Digital industries simultaneously is vital to support our infrastructure within Further Education to ensure the future demands are met successfully. We aim to develop the use of Simulation, Artificial Intelligence, Drone Technology and Augmented reality to enhance the learning environment.

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KPIS AND TARGETS FOR 21/22 – 24/25

TARGET

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