Latest News & Useful Links

The skills landscape never stops moving. Making sure you are up to date and ahead of the latest changes, news and developments is vital. Please see below the latest announcements from the CPA, government and various other training providers, stakeholders and partners covering and impacting on skills and training in the construction plant sector.

Regional Support and Wider Construction Initiatives 

As the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt, the government sees construction as a key driver of growth and a part of its ‘levelling up’ agenda to rebalance economic opportunity. A skilled and growing construction workforce is vital if these plans are to be fulfilled.

Across the UK, there is a wide range of training and support initiatives for people looking for a career in construction and further information. While this is not an exhaustive list, it does provide an idea of the different types of information available and the different partnerships that exist to support the ongoing development of the construction workforce.

National Initiatives and Schemes 

CITB Regional Training Group 
The CITB is responsible for 88 training groups situated across the UK. Each group is responsible for training in a particular construction sector and area.

Construction Youth Trust
Works with the industry in showcasing the different types of role in construction, providing training programmes and work experience for young people.

Construction Talent Retention Scheme 
The talent retention scheme is for both employers and employees looking to find the ideal candidate and job for those within the construction sector. Candidates can upload their CVs to the site, with companies posting jobs and roles on a daily basis.

Supply Chain Sustainability School 
Works with the construction industry in showcasing the role of the built environment, centred on five key areas - Sustainability, LEAN, Building Information Management (BIM), offsite construction and management.

Go Construct 
The national service for people looking for career in construction, Go Construct is led by the Construction Industry Training Board with the support from allied trade associations.

National Careers Service
This provides a brief overview of the construction plant-hire industry, with further information on a limited number of roles and entry level requirements.

Careers Enterprise Company 
Works with schools and colleges across England, with employers to promote careers advice and inspire school children to the world of work.

CPCS
The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) provides skills cards for a wide range of plant specifically and focuses on the construction and allied industries. Launched in 2003, the scheme has since issued over 300,000 cards across the construction plant sector.

NPORS 
NPORS is one of the UK’s accreditation and registration bodies, working across numerous sectors. Although concentrating on carding for construction plant activities, they also cover industrial to agricultural, ports and marine industries. 

Other plant carding schemes in construction include the International Powered Access Federation IPAF and the Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers ALLMI for these specialist categories of plant.

Regional Initiatives & Schemes 

Local Enterprise Partnerships 
Each of the 38 LEPs across England, support economic growth and development in their regions. Working with local authorities and the private sector, each LEP supports and promotes the development of businesses - with funding streams and information on how companies can upskill their workforce, funding and careers advice.

CITB in Wales
Provides the latest information and advice for companies and individuals looking to access skills and courses in the construction sector in Wales - as well as the latest information on CITB in Wales.

Skills Excellence in Wales 
A Welsh Government funded initiative led by Coleg Sir Gar and secured by the Skills Ambassador Network (SAN). The SAN was established in 2011 and consists of a dedicated network of colleges, work-based learning providers and employer-led organisations.

CITB in Scotland 
The CITB’s representative body in Scotland, providing advice, updates and support networks. 

Skills Development Scotland
Acts as the Sector Skills Council and industry training board for the Scottish construction sector. Develops a wide range of modern apprenticeships in specialist areas.

My World of Work
Online toolkit and service for people looking for careers advice and job training in Scotland.

CITB in Northern Ireland
The sector skills council and training board for construction skills in Northern Ireland. It provides case studies and how to get into the plant-hire industry.