North west Wales construction - Learning network project

The review had five objectives:

1. Describe and quantify the nature of the construction industry across the region.
2. To map current and future labour and skills demand within the construction industry in the locality.
3. To map the scope scale and quality of provision of vocational learning funded by ELWa in construction trades.
4. To assess the future demand for learning and the capability of the learning network to meet it; achieved through the consultations, and workshop event.
5. To make recommendations on establishing a learning network in construction in North West Wales by conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis and initial recommendations, consulting again with training providers and stakeholders to form the basis for accurate, robust and achievable final recommendations.

Underpinning the project were local concerns that the sector is facing wide ranging changes to operating practices and skills requirements and is characterised by:

• a lack of available labour to meet current and, importantly, future industry demand
• a historical under-investment in the learning infrastructure which will hamper attempts to close the growing gap between the demands of the industry and the demands of learners on the one hand, and the availability of learning on the other.

Data collected through desk research and initial consultation was analysed by the CRG research team and a SWOT analysis of learning provision for the construction sector in North West Wales drawn up. The SWOT summary was deliberately simplistic and was the subject of further consultations with key informants, training providers and employers.