Skills and their Value in Regeneration
Beyond place brand and identity, the panel focused on how skills are part of the equation in successful regeneration.
Angela Jones disliked an excessive focus on sectors.
Some of the most important issues, such as skills, don't fit in boxes. Skills come up in every sector. So actually, let's look at the themes that we need to unlock that economic inclusive growth, rather than focusing on sectors.
In terms of the physical infrastructure for skills, the state of the education estate often dominates the news agenda and Alex Isted felt the response often came in flurries.
There are periods of time where the feeling is there is a lot happening – you see new educational facilities coming forward, right from primary through further and higher education. That’s great but sometimes feels like there’s still a lot to sort and we are putting a patch on a much bigger challenge. Some buildings in the UK, including numerous schools, were made with a type of concrete called RAAC that's now unsafe. A lot of existing facilities just aren't up to scratch.
Eleanor Hinds, Regional Business Development, SCAPE
Eleanor Hinds of SCAPE said that it speaks volumes that the state of UK school buildings is now a such a concern for parents.
The first thing we look at is the state of the school, which shouldn't be the situation. Some state schools are in a really poor physical condition. And that's not just isolated in one area but nationally.
The companies working in the built environment connect directly to the skills agenda through offering training and job opportunities. Alex Isted talked about Morgan Sindall’s interest in changing perceptions of the construction industry and reaching out to young people in families which may have no direct experience of the sector.
He also cited the ‘Knowledge Quad’ model the firm developed internally and uses - a learning facility in a town or city centre that can be used as a classroom and a place to… introduce people to the industry.
It’s a dedicated space where we put on a series of training and educational sessions for young and old; it might be somebody who's changing careers, for 40-year-olds, who want to get into industry. We create Knowledge Quads on-site in cabins next to our projects as well classrooms in city centres.
Knowledge Quad on site in Salford
Ryder Architecture has an especially impressive track record as a pioneer in this respect. Working in partnership with Gateshead College, the firm launched a scheme called PlanBEE (Plan for Built Environment Education) in Newcastle in 2016. An award winning higher apprenticeship scheme, it has been operating in Manchester since 2021 and London from 2023, with an affiliated programme in Vancouver.
It’s an apprenticeship scheme that's an employer-driven.
Key features include rotational placements where apprentices complete six consecutive placements across different disciplines such as architecture, engineering, surveying, and construction. This allows them to gain a broad range of skills.
Apprentices earn a salary from day one while working on live projects and studying for their qualifications.They spend four days a week at work and one day a week studying for their apprenticeship qualification, as well as HNC and HND qualifications. PlanBEE boasts a 98% success rate in apprentices securing permanent employment in the built environment sector. There are over 70 PlanBEE sponsor companies across the UK and internationally, including Arup, Cundall, Mace, Morgan Sindall, and Sir Robert McAlpine as well as Ryder.The benefits for the apprentices include diversity of experience, gaining hands-on experience in different roles and companies, enhancing their adaptability and
…professional skills. The programme also includes professional mentoring, site visits, technical challenges, and competitions to enrich the learning experience. Most apprentices continue to higher apprenticeships and secure permanent professional roles with the sponsor companiesPlanBEE is a great opportunity for young people interested in the built environment to kick-start their professional careers with a comprehensive and supportive apprenticeship.
Eleanor Hinds of SCAPE added:
From a framework aspect, skills are just at the core of everything that we do. So, we heavily KPI all our partners in how they infiltrate the skills mentality, the apprenticeship schemes, the social value and cascade that down. It's a simple thing like knowing that my little girl understands that a hardhat isn't just for a man, but can be for a woman as well. There’s a perception versus the reality issue. When I do Careers Days, the girls come in, and they're very much, ‘Well there’s nothing here for me.’ But when you sit down and have a really open conversation, they come round to understanding the bigger picture of construction and infrastructure and how there's so much more to it than just bricks and mortar.
All the panellists felt the social value agenda around skills would continue to evolve.
We think change will happen and we're open to it , I don't think there's any resistance from industry – it’s more about increasing the level of impact and inclusiveness.
Michelle Perry, of Newcastle City Council, stressed the importance of reaching young people well before school leaving age.
Getting to children aged 16 is too late. Got to get in earlier and start having conversations. Mentoring, for me, is such an essential part of that, freeing up our time to go and talk to young people.
She cited the example of Northumbria University, which attracted of £50 million investment into creating a world-leading skills, research and technology centre based on that most futuristic of sectors in the knowledge economy: space.
We've got this amazing hook - who doesn't want to talk about space?
She felt the North East needs to embrace 21st century industries as a route to jobs and careers.
What sits behind ‘space’ is all the engineering, the digital technologies, the science and the ability to take data and translate it. It’s a very exciting project.
