The NHBC Training Hub in association with Redrow and Tamworth Borough Council: creating the next generation of housebuilders
NHBC opens new training hub to train the next generation of housebuilders
Who is NHBC?
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) is the UK’s leading provider of warranty and insurance for new homes. Established in 1936, NHBC’s purpose is to build confidence in the construction quality of new homes by assessing, inspecting and directly insuring new homes registered with them.
The Skills Gap
The demand for quality, affordable housing continues to grow. However, industry data shows that more bricklayers are leaving the industry than joining. Also, NHBC had been tracking emerging issues surrounding the quality of external walls, explains Darryl Stewart, NHBC’s head of training and analysis. “It was apparent from our inspection and claims data that there was an increasing challenge with the quality of external walls”.
To help plug the skills gap, in association with Redrow Homes and Tamworth Borough Council, NHBC took the lead in the creation of a major new industry Training Hub. Its aim is to develop the next generation of skilled tradespeople venturing into housebuilding.
The Hub
A purpose-built facility, the Hub resembles a typical site compound with a centrally placed, large covered concrete slab for practical training, surrounded by high specification classrooms, site cabins with welfare facilities and a mortar batching plant. This purpose-built facility will immerse more than 100 apprentices annually in a realistic site environment.
The programme
Bricklaying has been chosen as the initial focus for the Training Hub due to the shortage of skilled bricklayers. The 18-month programme is delivered through concentrated blocks of training. Its modular approach means that, after only a few weeks, apprentices are ready to work on site. “Initially we have them for five full weeks, starting at 7:30 in the morning and finishing at 16:30, we get them health and safety savvy and teach them sufficient basic bricklaying skills so that when they join site in week six, they can positively contribute” Stewart says.
“The lead tutors at the Hub, who both had an FE college background, weren’t used to working in an environment where they had apprentices for a solid eight hours. But it was a pleasant challenge. Due to the model we have, we’re able to give apprentices a lot more practical training; we can hone them” Stewart added.
Another unexpected element of the first cohort was its wide geographic profile. The Hub was built with a mind to promoting local jobs. More than half of the group were local apprentices, but: “It was surprising how far afield people were willing to travel to the Hub,” Stewart notes. “One small housebuilder based in Bolton sent an apprentice down. Others stayed over in Tamworth.” He points to CITB’s offers of “good grants” for accommodation and travel. “These have helped the model. We’ve got other builders talking about sending apprenticeships from further afield.”
Anna Milne, Redrow’s head of talent, says that its five apprentices attending the bricklaying apprenticeship programme at NHBC’s Training Hub have found it an “overwhelmingly positive” experience.
“We are delighted to be working in collaboration with NHBC and Tamworth Borough Council to provide this vital training space for our industry’s budding young skilled professionals,” she says. And with a few months of the programme complete, “we can now see first-hand how the cohorts have found the course. Overall, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from everyone taking part in this unique training opportunity, with all the apprentices benefitting from a simulated work environment, which will ultimately mean they are able to make a smooth transition to site”.
Building the Future
NHBC is now having “detailed conversations” with other housebuilders about establishing additional training Hubs around the UK. The key to their location is identifying gaps in good quality training provision and aiding housebuilders with this, Stewart explains. “There are numerous colleges with really good training provision but there are clearly gaps throughout the UK which we aim to plug with this model.” Driven by its data, NHBC will continue to monitor training challenges and consider “how we can help”.For more, visit www.nhbc.co.uk/TrainingHub
is Redrow Plc?
Redrow is a leading, premium housebuilder dedicated to giving people a better way to live.
For nearly 50 years it has been creating high quality homes and communities for its customers, building over 100,000 homes across Britain.
As one of the largest housebuilders in the country, Redrow has 14 operational divisions and employs 2300 people.
The Skills Gap
The demand for quality, affordable housing continues to grow, but given recent events the number of skilled tradespeople entering construction is down. To help address the skills gap Redrow took a lead in the creation of a major new construction industry Training Hub.
The Hub
In association with NHBC and Tamworth Borough Council, and with input from a construction industry working group, the Training Hub is able to support more than 100 apprentices annually. It’s a purpose-built facility next to an active Redrow development that will immerse trainees in a realistic working environment.
The Training Hub site resembles a typical site compound, with a large covered central space for practical work alongside high-specification classrooms and welfare facilities. The first cohort of new apprentices were welcomed at the Training Hub in May 2021.
Karen Jones, Group HR Director at Redrow: “We are thrilled to be working in collaboration with NHBC and Tamworth Borough Council to provide vital training space for our industry’s budding young skilled professionals.
We know that frequent changes to site location and the travel implications this brings acts as a barrier for many in completing their apprenticeship. In providing this long-term Training Hub we are providing stability and security for many young people.”
The Programme
The 18-month programme is delivered through concentrated blocks of training, focusing apprentices on the key skills needed in house building. Its modular approach means that, after only a few weeks, apprentices are able to contribute positively on active sites. The scheme trains apprentices all year round with cohort intakes throughout the year.
Bricklaying has been chosen as the initial focus for the Training Hub due to the shortage of skilled bricklayers in the housebuilding sector, which has been compounded by the covid epidemic.
Building the Future
Karen Jones: “Apprentices can play a vital role in ‘building back better’ following the worst of the pandemic, and they will be critical in tackling the skills gap and helping to deliver the homes and infrastructure the country needs. It’s important that as an industry we continue to support those coming through the ranks.” The Training Hub attracts young people into the construction industry, to become apprentices and develop their skills. Through the Hub Redrow is helping to create a new generation of housebuilders, building careers and providing the sector with a highly capable workforce to meet the rising demand for new houses and securing jobs for the future.
For more, visit www.nhbc.co.uk/TrainingHub