Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the relationship between the construction industry and colleges in providing courses that meet the skills requirements of employers within the construction industry.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) works with other stakeholders to set the skills priorities for the sector ensuring that vocational qualifications delivered by the further education sector and private training providers are fit for purpose and meet the needs of employers. It also collects labour market intelligence through the Construction Skills Network which helps identify trends in the demand for skills by occupation and region.

The Government supports a demand led approach to skills, with employers at the centre of decisions. CITB is undertaking work to better understand the supply of skills and qualifications in the further and higher education sectors, and how this matches employer demand.