Apprenticeships for trade and construction course candidates

15 Mar 2010

Students on trade and construction courses are to be given apprenticeships through a new initiative.

Trade and construction course candidates have been given a boost by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which has launched a new scheme aimed at giving them a career boost.

More young people taking vocational courses with the view to joining the building industry will be given apprenticeships with FMB member firms under the initiative from the Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force.

The FMB has provided £10,400 of funding for the innovative scheme, which will provide a 16-week work experience placement for people in their first year on full-time courses at further education colleges.

An estimated 500 extra work experience places are expected to be created through the Pathway to Construction Industry Pilot scheme over the next two years.

It is hoped that the government will back the initiative by matching the industry funding to enable a total of 1,000 young people get placements and achieve a recognised qualification.

A recent report from the FMB and other organisations claimed that 55,000 new jobs could be created in 2010 if the VAT is reviewed.

Posted by David Steitz