Youth unemployment and bridging construction industry skills gap

Building Pathways event sponsored by Toolstation

Youthbuild UK held a Building Pathways event recently and young people spoke about how their lives had been transformed by opportunities to work in the construction industry’

Encourage younger generation into the construction industry

• 963,000 young people in England are not in education, employment or training (NEETS)[i]
• over 220,000 jobs will be created in the construction industry by 2019
• demand for workers will be high and skills gaps will emerge[ii]

Youthbuild UK believe that the skills gap in the construction industry is the perfect opportunity for disadvantaged and disengaged youth to enter the workforce, and prove themselves as first class employees.

John Gillespie, Chair of Youthbuild UK: ñLike many people, I became involved with Youthbuild as a result of my desire to both help disengaged, disadvantaged young people and to give them an opportunity to train for and become employed in the construction industry. Building Pathways showcases how different organisations have become involved in the ñYouthbuildî ideal. It also provides examples of how young people have positively responded to the opportunities they have been given.î

Toolstation support for Youthbuild UK

Toolstation and Youthbuild UK’s association began in 2013, with Toolstation providing prizes for the winners and runners up of the Young Builder of the Year award. In 2014 this relationship grew with the continuation of prizes.

Toolstation Commercial Development Director, Neil Carroll:ñHelping support the future development of young people in the building trade is something that we care about and are honoured to be involved in. There is incredible talent out there from young people within the industry and it is great to be able to see recognition and success stories championed by Youthbuild UK.î

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[i] UK Parliament, (2015). NEET: Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training – Commons Library Standard Note. [online] Available at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/SN06705/neet-young-people-not-in-education-employment-or-training [Accessed 5 Mar. 2015].

[ii] Citb.co.uk, (2015). UK – CITB. [online] Available at: http://www.citb.co.uk/research/construction-skills-network/uk/ [Accessed 5 Mar. 2015].

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