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Edinburgh Reporter
20 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Construction industry faces pressure from apprenticeship dropout rate
The high dropout rate of apprentices in the built environment came under the microscope at an Edinburgh roundtable event bringing together key industry figures in Scotland. The event was held at the National Museum of Scotland, where 13 industry professionals gathered to debate Scotland's construction skills crisis. The event was chaired by Rachel Colgan, of PR agency Building Relations, and laid bare the impact of the number of construction-related apprentices leaving before completing their learning, as well as those who quit within 24 months of qualifying. Recent figures from the British Association of Construction Heads (BACH) highlighted a 47% drop out rate for construction apprentices in the UK. This means that only 8,620 construction apprentices reached End Point Assessment (EPA) in 2022/23. To put this into perspective, according to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), there were approximately 33,600 apprenticeship starts in construction in 2022/23. The data also shows that significantly more construction apprentices drop out after 24 months compared to other apprenticeships (17% compared to just 6% in other sectors). Responding to the question: 'Are existing qualifications and apprenticeships still fit for purpose' speakers shared their personal experiences around the issues of training and retaining apprentices, including an example of a young worker who left their trade-based apprenticeship in favour of a better-paying role in the hospitality sector. Some of the reasons for a high drop out rate include: Low pay Demanding job with long hours Young workers wanting the 'big job' before putting in the hard graft Perceptions of working in construction being a job rather than a career Lack of promotion of opportunities in school career advice Post-covid generation seeking a better work/life balance Recruitment drives not inspiring the next generation Research by Skills Development Scotland, 2024, shows that just 8% of young people aged 16–18 in Scotland said they would seriously consider a construction career. At the event some solutions to the crisis proposed included: Outreach to schools, especially targeting underrepresented groups including girls and care-experienced youngsters Provide real progression maps, from entry-level to higher technical or management roles – which many successful apprentices go on to Shorter, focused, and hands-on learning wins over traditional full-time courses Tie learning to real community projects to show purpose and local impact Mike Pratt, Co-founder and Director of InverTay Homes and Timber Engineering UK, listed a number of reasons why he thought apprentices struggled in the construction industry, including: lower wages during training, apprentice courses taking too long to qualify, a growing desire from young people to work reduced hours in pursuit of a better work/life balance, as well as unrealistic wage growth expectations and a gap between industry need and college curriculum. He said: 'Our industry is in desperate need of upskilling an aging workforce as well as a steady intake of young apprentices. We need radical change in the industry to reverse the downward trajectory of apprenticeships and the 'brain drain' from the construction industry. 'There are going to be massive labour shortages for the foreseeable future so we cannot afford to be training people up, just to see them leave the industry straight away. We need a targeted and progressive approach to plug the gaps and ensure the next generation of school leavers want to enter an industry that values them.' The wider purpose of the roundtable was to examine the skills crisis Scotland's construction sector is currently facing amidst growing housing demand and net zero targets. According to Skills Development Scotland, the construction industry must recruit over 48,000 people by 2034 to meet future demand. Other topics discussed included how to prepare the workforce for net zero, new ways to attract people into construction trades and what is needed from Scottish Government, CITB, SDS, or others to unlock progress. The general consensus of roundtable guest was that despite many challenges, the construction industry in Scotland offered a rewarding career path with strong job prospects, diverse opportunities, and the chance to contribute to the country's growing infrastructure and sustainable development. Following the event Rachel Colgan said: 'The roundtable conversation highlighted a stark reality: Scotland's construction sector is grappling with a critical skills shortage, made worse by the high dropout rate among young apprentices. But it also made one thing clear, if we want lasting change, we need to create an environment where young people feel supported and valued. This way young people will be able to understand the amazing career opportunities available to them in this industry.' Jocelyne Fleming, senior policy and public affairs officer for CIOB in Scotland said: 'Scotland's construction sector offers rewarding careers that make a positive difference to the country. 'Our recent survey revealed nearly 75 per cent of young people in Scotland view the construction industry positively, but nearly half were never introduced to it as a potential career path during education. 'We urgently need to strengthen the existing workforce and build a robust talent pipeline. That requires a government-led, strategic, and long-term plan, one that identifies the future demands of our built environment, defines the skills and expertise needed to meet them, and ensures we have the resources to attract, train, and retain the people who will deliver it.' Guests at the roundtable included, Lauren Pennycook, Senior Policy and Government Relations Advisor, CITB, Mike Pratt, Co-founder & Director InverTay Homes, Timber Engineering UK, Steven Kiakowski, Director, The Verdancy Group, Colin Jack, Managing Director of Scotland, Places for People, Gordon Nelson, Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland, Jim Baxter, Financial Director, Allanwater Homes, Laura McGuigan, Business Development Manager, Kier Construction, Chair of Women in Property, Matt Colgan, Founder, Sustainabuild, Frazer Walker, Head of School, School of Engineering, Construction & Technical Skills, Fife College, Mairi Murray, Head of Sustainability, BakerHicks, Jocelyne Fleming, Senior Policy & Public Affairs Officer for Scotland, Chartered Institute of Building, and Professor Robert Hairstans, Head, Centre for Offsite Construction and Innovative Structures at Edinburgh Napier University, Director, Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) at the New Model Institute of Technology and Engineering (NMITE), Skills and EDI Lead, Centre for Net Zero Carbon High Density Buildings. 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West Australian
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Germany's big five anniversaries in 2025
While other countries in Europe mark special occasions in 2025, Germany has noteworthy dates of its own to celebrate, with legendary talents, sights and stories coming under the spotlight. 275 YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF BACH Decades before Mozart and Beethoven were born, there was another composer who stirred hearts and minds across Europe. That's Johann Sebastian Bach, whose tunes were the sound of the late baroque era. This year, commemorative events are taking place around Germany, including Bach festivals in the state of Thuringia, where he was raised in the town of Eisenach, and in the city of Leipzig, where he composed many of his famous works and passed away on July 28, 1750. Dresden is another focal point for the anniversary celebrations. Bach was a regular visitor to the 'Florence of the Elbe' and the landmark church, the Frauenkirche, at the heart of a city rebuilt after World War II Allied bombing, will be among the concert venues showcasing his compositions, such as the Brandenburg Concertos and Goldberg Variations. 50 YEARS OF THE FAIRY TALE ROUTE Buoyed by the success of the Romantic Road, tourism bosses conjured the Germany Fairy Tale Route, hoping it would do for the country's centre and north what the former did for the south. Winding 600km between Hanau (near Frankfurt) and Buxtehude (near Hamburg), this route is heavily driven by the lives and works of those fairytale masters, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. There are dozens of locations to visit en route, including chocolate-box towns and villages like Marburg and Steinau and the woodlands that characters like Hansel and Gretel would have played in. Other places you may have read about in your childhood include Hamelin, famed for its pied piper, and Bremen, where there's a statue of its animal musicians. Elsewhere, there's Sababurg Castle (the model, it's said, for Sleeping Beauty's home) and Rapunzel's Tower, which soars from the medieval fortress in Trendelburg, a town in the Diemel Valley. Throughout the Fairy Tale Route, you will find museums about the Brothers Grimm, open-air performances of their stories in the warmer months, and walking tours led by guides in period and character costumes. fact file + For more information on the anniversary events and to visit Germany, see .
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Sidetrack
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Sidetrack Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel Editor: Amanda Rafkin NINA (12A: "Dog Days" actress Dobrev) Dog Days is a 2018 romcom that centers on the lives of various dogs living in Los Angeles, and the intertwined lives of their owners. NINA Dobrev stars as the host of a morning show. Her character's dog is a pug named DogDay. TREVOR MACK (16A: Tsilhqot'in filmmaker who directed "Portraits From a Fire") The Tsilhqot'in are an Athabaskan-speaking Indigenous people in British Columbia, Canada. TREVOR MACK's debut feature-length film, Portraits from a Fire, was released in 2021. The award-winning film is about an Indigenous teen who vlogs about his community and grandparents. ECON (67A: Emi Nakamura's subj.) Emi Nakamura is a professor of Economics (ECON.) at the University of California, Berkeley. The abbreviation of the word subject in the clue alerts solvers the answer will be an abbreviation. TAOS (1A: Art colony northeast of Santa Fe) TAOS, located in TAOS County in New Mexico, is a popular place for artists, and the area is home to many art galleries and museums. TART (5A: Like the taste of kumquats) Kumquats are citrus fruits that resemble tiny oranges. Kumquats, which are the size of large olives, are known for their TART flavor. ALI (22A: "Single Lady" comic Wong) Single Lady is a 2024 Netflix comedy special by ALI Wong. The show won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television. BACH (35A: Johann Sebastian ___) Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) was a German composer. BACH was a prolific composer, and many of his pieces are still played today. For all of his accomplishments, I'm a bit sheepish to admit that what I think of when I consider BACH is the miniature busts of composers that one of my childhood piano teachers gave to students who memorized their recital pieces. SIERRA (44A: ___ Nevada mountains) The SIERRA Nevada mountain range is located in the western part of the United States. The SIERRA Nevada is primarily in California, though part of the range extends into Nevada. The SIERRA Nevada is home to three National Parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. BRR (51A: "It's freezing cold") and ICE BATHS (15A: Cold soaks for marathoners) These two answers pair well together. FLORID (57A: Excessively ornate) The word FLORID derives from the Latin word for "flowery" or "blooming." FLORID was originally used to mean "covered with flowers," but over time it came to be used to refer to something – such as writing or decoration – that is excessively ornate. RCA (7D: Record label for H.E.R.) H.E.R. is an acronym for "Having Everything Revealed." H.E.R.'s George Floyd protest-inspired song, "I Can't Breathe," won a 2021 Grammy Award for Song of the Year. H.E.R. signed with RCA Records in 2016. VERA (10D: Fashion designer Wang) VERA Wang is a fashion designer well-known for designing evening wear and wedding dresses for public figures. She also has a line of ready-to-wear clothing, Simply VERA. SNOW FORT (40D: Frozen playhouse for outdoor fun) Although at the moment I am ready for spring, I do enjoy a good SNOW FORT. DKNY (60D: Big Apple fashion brand) Donna Karan founded her fashion house in 1984. She was inspired by her daughter to launch DKNY in 1989, as a younger, more affordable line alongside her mainline label, Donna Karan New York, which had debuted in 1985. TREVOR MACK (16A: Tsilhqot'in filmmaker who directed "Portraits From a Fire") TRAVELER'S CHECK (38A: Tourist's secure payment option) TOUGH NUT TO CRACK (61A: Baffling problem) SIDETRACK: The word TRACK is split and found at the SIDEs of the theme answers: TREVOR MACK, TRAVELER'S CHECK, and TOUGH NUT TO CRACK. After discovering today's theme, my main question was, "Do people still use TRAVELER'S CHECKs?" I remember using them, but it's been years since I've done so. It seems like the use of TRAVELER'S CHECKs has been mainly replaced by credit cards and other means of electronic payment. At any rate, that thought in no way detracts from the enjoyment of this puzzle. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this splendid puzzle. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for March 30, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
