Open to all applicants 16 and over
Barnardo’s Scotland has received £700,000 in funding to support hundreds of young people to make the move into construction industry jobs across the country.
The funding, which has come from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), will allow Barnardo’s Scotland to support people into work, within the construction industry, along with access to relevant industry-recognised training.
The initiative, which is part of the CITB’s Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities commission (SACO), covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, the Highlands, Perth & Kinross and Moray, and will run over the course of the next three years.
All new entrants will be given the opportunity to start work in construction with a variety of roles on offer, including, but not exclusive joinery, bricklaying, roofing, scaffolding and general building operatives. All applicants from the age of 16 are welcome.
Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “We are calling on the construction industry to get behind this ambitious scheme which will allow Barnardo’s to support hundreds of young people in Scotland to make the transition into what is a buoyant and expanding industry.
“We will support new entrants to the scheme with ‘touch points’ throughout the various stages of the journey, from telephone and email interaction to in-depth reviews and face-to-face contact visits. Furthermore, Barnardo’s Scotland will be drawing on existing relationships with local partners and stakeholders to achieve sustained employment outcomes.”
The Barnardo’s Employment, Training and Skills (ETS) service currently works to support disadvantaged people and/or those facing multiple barriers. The charity will apply this specialist knowledge to SACO, ensuring that with the right support all individuals will have equal opportunities to progress and thrive in employment.
Ian Hughes, CITB engagement director for Scotland, said: “I’m delighted to see the SACO Commission progress in the Highlands and Islands; like many, an area that requires increased access to construction skills in the coming years.
“This funding will be instrumental in not only helping to develop a successful recruitment pipeline across wider Scotland, but also in supporting the success of more rural communities with investment to assist people entering the construction sector.
“With demand in Scotland for more than 25,000 additional workers by 2026, we cannot underestimate the challenge industry faces. We must act now to ensure industry has the workforce it needs, and this commission presents a great opportunity to begin addressing some of the key issues.
"I’m excited to see the projects get underway and wish them all the best of luck as they move into the next phase.”
