Construction sector backs diploma
Having celebrated the success of more than 350 students achieving the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (C&BE), senior industry figures have come together to pledge their continued support for the qualification.
An announcement from the Government earlier this year to stop funding for Diploma Development Partnership programmes had cast some doubt over the future of the qualification. However, as construction and built environment industries look to train the workforce of tomorrow, many of the sector’s most influential officials have renewed their backing for these important school qualifications. The Diploma in C&BE, which combines traditional classroom learning with real-world, practical experience, aims to deliver a wider pool of job-ready young people for firms of all sizes.
Nick Gooderson, Head of Education and Research at ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council, said: “This year’s results for the Diploma in C&BE show that the UK’s construction industry has much to look forward to as the next generation of workers starts to come through.
“Not only did more than 350 talented young people achieve the full Diploma in C&BE qualification, but 1,100 successfully also passed the Principle Learning Qualification, which is a component of the Diploma and is, in itself, equivalent to five GCSEs at the Higher level and two A levels at Advanced level.
“This is all positive news for firms across construction and built environment sectors, as it means that tomorrow’s workforce is being rigorously challenged from a young age. Not only that, but because the Diploma in C&BE gives its students a grounding in emerging disciplines such as carbon reduction skills, it means that the industry will not be short of expertise in these areas for years to come.
“Although we are looking at simplifying the ways that the Diploma in C&BE is administrated, ConstructionSkills and its partner Sector Skills Councils are fully committed to taking the qualification forward and ensuring that it continues to be a big success.”
David Lloyd-Roach, of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) said: “The Diploma offers a valuable route for young people who want to gain the knowledge and skills to allow them to flourish in the different fields of construction and the built environment. The ICE believes that its continuation is key to addressing the skills and capacity shortages affecting the civil engineering profession. In light of recent speculation, the sector as a whole should unite in defending a qualification which is already proving to be an asset for companies wishing to recruit fresh young talent.”
