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The
People Agenda - Skills, training and other policy areas
Skills and
Training
CSU’s work on skills and training is in line with wider Departmental policy
on the development of skills. A wide range of training programmes are
available for those involved in construction, from various training providers.
These cater for everyone, from those wishing to embark on a college course,
to work-related training for professionals. Information and guidance
specifically for SMEs is available from Businesslink, and from CITB-ConstructionSkills and
SummitSkills, the two Sector Skills Councils covering the built
environment.
The Unit welcomes the construction industry’s drive towards a full
qualified and competent workforce, and the associated Construction Skills
Certification Scheme (CSCS) and affiliated schemes. These seek to stress
the importance of competency, and improve health and safety performance in
the industry. Further information about CSCS is available from their
website.
Links:
Businesslink
Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
Summit Skills
CITB-ConstructionSkills
Health and Safety
Health and safety is a
huge issue for the construction industry given the large number of
fatalities and accidents. It has a direct impact on public perception of
the industry and is one of the most obvious areas to be addressed in the
Respect For People programme.
DTI works alongside the HSE and other Government Departments to ensure a
joined up approach to safety and related policy areas. HSE leads on the
enforcement of legislation and associated Codes of Practice. They have also
undertaken a range of programmes to promote best practice in health and
safety, many of which stemmed from the 2001 and 2005 Safety Summits.
Working closely with partners including the HSE, the Association of British
Insurers (ABI) and industry bodies, The Unit has produced three guidance leaflets
on the subject of risk management, particularly in the context of
employers’ liability insurance. Links are given to PDF versions that can be
downloaded. They are also available as hard copy from Publications at DTI.
Links:
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Liability Insurance
Finding an insurancebroker
Presenting your Employers' Liability Risk
Diversity, including women in construction
The industry’s workforce
is mainly male, with a low proportion of people from the ethnic minorities,
although there are regional variations. Detailed analyses have been
compiled and are available from CITB-ConstructionSkills. SummitSkills is also doing work in this
area.
There has been increasing focus on the fact that there is a huge, largely
untapped source of quality workers for the industry. There are many
opportunities available for women in construction, and a number of
organisations exist specifically to provide training and placements for
women in the industry. The Sector Skills Councils have information about
their programmes to tackle this issue, and signpost to other organisations
working in this area. The Constructing Excellence PeopleZone also provides
useful information.
The Unit works closely with the DTI’s Women and Equality Unit, the
Diversity for Women Unit at the Office for Science and Technology, and
industry bodies to address this aspect of the People Agenda.
Link:
CITB-ConstructionSkills
Constructing Excellence PeopleZone
SummitSkills
Tax and the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
The CIS provides a
sector-specific tax regime for those registered as self-employed, which is
administered by the Inland Revenue. For more information and for the
current status of the CIS Review, see the Inland Revenue website.
Link:
Inland
Revenue (Construction Industry Scheme)
Migrant workers in construction
Migrant working is a recognised feature of construction, which raises many issues
about language, safety, training, and inclusion in the wider Respect for
People agenda. The Unit works closely with the Sector Skills Councils, HSE,
and the Home Office to help ensure that the needs of overseas workers are
catered for.
To help employers get to
grips with legal technicalities involved in employing migrant labour, The
Unit, in association with the Home Office, has recently produced a guidance
note on the engagement of migrant workers. To see or download this, click
on the link below.
Links:
Home Office (Working in the UK)
Guidance Note on Engagement of
Migrant Workers
List of links available on this page:
Businesslink
CITB-ConstructionSkills
Constructing Excellence PeopleZone
Construction Skills
Certification Scheme (CSCS)
Health and
Safety Executive (HSE)
SummitSkills
Home Office (Working in the UK)
Inland
Revenue (Construction Industry Scheme)
Liability Insurance
Finding an
insurancebroker
Presenting your Employers' Liability Risk
Guidance Note on Engagement of
Migrant Workers
For Further information
contact chris.collett@dti.gov.uk
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