Showcase will build on skills
Young people encouraged into construction
A workshop is to be held today to help develop the next generation of construction workers in Perth and Kinross.
As part of the region’s developing the young workforce initiative, Loch Leven Community Campus will be holding Design Engineer Construct Showcase on Tuesday, September 12 to show how investing in young talent could help Scotland’s construction industry along with the potential impact of Brexit, including showcasing some of Kinross High School’s social enterprise projects, such as designing a visitor centre for Loch Leven.
Around 50 people are expected to attend the event in Kinross today, which will look to offer work experience opportunities, promote apprenticeships, and help ensure young people from all backgrounds have the right skills for the workplace.
Construction is a major employer in Perth and Kinross, supporting 4,600 jobs and accounting for 7% of the region’s employment with a value of £216m a year. Currently the sector is discussing how to deal with the UK leaving the European Union, as around 8% of the total workforce comes from the EU.
Steven Stewart, chair of the Perth and Kinross developing young workforce regional board, said: “Brexit is presenting many challenges and uncertainties for business, including for the construction sector, particularly around future access to the labour and skilled professionals it needs to continue to grow.
“Our young people can help meet that challenge. They are a critical part of growing the domestic skills base and talent pipeline in a sector that is extremely important to our own regional economy and the future vision for Perth and the wider area.
“We have a fast-growing region and young people can see firsthand the large-scale infrastructure projects underway right on their doorstep.
“There’s the £1bn project to create a new community at Bertha Park on the edge of Perth with 3,000 new homes and a new school. It’s supported by major improvements to the road infrastructure. And on top of that, there are projects to convert historical buildings into cultural attractions.
“We are encouraging the contractors involved and their supply chains to come into schools and share the excitement and their expertise.
“There are a huge range of opportunities in construction, including apprenticeships. As well as crafts and trades such as bricklaying and joinery, the sector needs architects, quantity surveyors and civil engineers.
“These are opportunities for both our young women and men. Through the young workforce initiative we want to help change people’s perceptions and understand the different pathways and future career options for our young people.”