UK Government funding for all post-16 training in civil engineering and construction is now the responsibility of new body called ConstructionSkills. ICE training consultant Richard Larcombe says it is a golden opportunity for civil engineers to reclaim their lead role.
The Institution of Civil Engineers is blessed in straddling the two broad technological disciplines of engineering and construction. It has never sought to choose between these two, nor should it.
At present the UK engineering community is brought together under the umbrella of the Engineering & Technology Board and the Engineering Council (UK). These mechanisms may not be perfect but they serve as the voice of the engineering profession and provide a focus for contact with Government.
In the construction sector, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) is the umbrella body for the professional institutions. The sector was recently affected by a major change in the way that the UK Government proposes to fund and manage post-16 education and training. The former national training organisations are being brought together into a smaller number of sector skills councils.
Professions and crafts combined
Civil engineering is classified as part of construction, for which the relevant sector skills council is called ConstructionSkills – a partnership between CIC and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Whereas CITB had a remit to maintain and improve craft performance, Construction-Skills is responsible for the careers and competence of the crafts and the professions across the whole supply chain.
It covers the education, training and qualification for those engaged in the whole of the construction process – from concept, planning, design, finance, procurement and partnering through to construction, payment, operation, maintenance and recycling. As such it covers everyone from unskilled labour and craftsmen through technicians and supervisors to managers and senior professionals.
It is worth noting that all transportation infrastructure is included – which therefore also includes anyone involved in transport planning, network management, traffic engineering and road safety.
An employer-led initiative
ConstructionSkills is employer-led and seeks to engage all key stakeholders in the sector, not least of which is the client community. Government funding is conditional on approval of a sector skills agreement between all key stakeholders in order to meet the objectives of
improved industry recruitment and selection
a better qualified workforce
improved business performance across the supply chain
better informed education and training providers.
The CIC's key purpose underpinning all occupational standards for the construction sector is to:
‘establish, maintain and modify the use and sustainability of the natural and built environment, balancing the requirements of clients, users and the community.’
This is very close to the ICE's vision – and can only be achieved if the Construction-Skills goals are met.
New partnerships, new standards
The Latham and Egan initiatives had a major influence in setting the current construction agenda and – like Construction-Skills – they identified that clients and employers must be fully engaged in the construction process.
Through the new ConstructionSkills council, ICE has a major opportunity to lead the establishment of new standards and qualifications for professionals and crafts alike
Through the new ConstructionSkills council, ICE has a major opportunity to lead the establishment of new standards and qualifications for professionals and crafts alike
The ICE's activities have been traditionally enabled through its network of individual members. However, it must now develop partnerships between clients and employers (such as the recent employer's forum set up by past president Doug Oakervee) as these are the key stakeholders providing the demand for education and training – which ConstructionSkills will then supply.
For the skills council to succeed, its partners must collaborate to create a single industry-wide framework of standards and qualifications. Compared to CITB, CIC is very modestly resourced and will depend on input from its professional member bodies: ICE's engagement with and leadership of CIC is therefore a crucial opportunity not to be missed.
It may also mean rethinking the ICE's qualifications to reflect an ever-broadening profession. The new technical report route has been a major achievement but we can go further, perhaps by creating a grade of chartered civil engineer which is decoupled from the Engineering Council's academic base. ICE Council has the authority to do this – all it needs is the will.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, Richard Larcombe, TEL +44 (0)1753 647765, EMAIL lark@silverbirches1.freeserve.co.uk
