With new T-Levels being introduced to the national school curriculum from 2020, leading plastic piping manufacturer Polypipe Terrain welcomes the opportunity to put new construction skills in the hands of a next generation of workers.
The T-Levels have been designed to give pupils aged 16-18 years the chance to follow a more practical syllabus, with eight-week placements in the workforce included as part of the course.
Students will attain a high-quality technical alternative to A-Levels as the government looks for radical ways to train a workforce fit for the jobs of tomorrow.
The final courses still need to be developed, and Polypipe Terrain wants the construction sector to work with education authorities to create courses that place new techniques and processes such as offsite manufacturing at the heart of the curriculum.
Clare Hawkes, HR Manager at Polypipe Terrain, said: "Adoption of new technology and working methods has to happen in the sector, and the government has provided a chance for future generations to be better equipped when they enter the workforce. We must seize this opportunity.
"The construction sector needs to find ways to open its doors to a rich pool of talent at the early stage of their careers, and to find a solution to providing the necessary placement opportunities.
"It often falls to the small and medium-sized construction firms to take on the apprentices and to provide work experience, but this is a chance for the big players across the sector, especially those financing new processes and technologies, to invest in the next generation and provide them with the right tools for work in the 21st century supply chain."
Polypipe Terrain's drainage stack systems offer a good example of the supply chain adapting to the changing needs of developers. With more tall buildings being developed to meeting housing demand across most major UK cities, Polypipe is increasingly working with developers to design and deliver complete systems that provide quicker and more cost-effective installation and minimal assembly on site.
This requires greater skills and innovation in the design workshop and factory floor. As more building processes are moved offsite and refined to deliver ready to install systems, there will be a greater demand for skilled workers to work in teams within the factory environment to solve onsite design challenges.
Original Link - Polypipe
