A SHORTAGE of innovation skills in the construction industry is set to be addressed with help from a new partnership.
The Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have created a strategic relationship to help identify and deliver skills and training for the industry, with the aim of improving productivity.
The partnership is set to support innovation in the sector by providing access and training provision for the industry, further education providers and public sector partners within its Innovation Factory – a new 35,000 sq ft hub, filled with £2 million worth of state-of-the-art equipment.
Rohan Bush, head of public partnerships and future workforce at CSIC, said: “At CSIC we work collaboratively with the industry to develop the future skills our sector needs.
“Our objective is to support the construction workforce to become more innovative, dynamic and globally competitive.
“Similarly, CITB has identified the need to develop future skills and innovation within the workforce as part of its reform programme. Working together to realise these mutual aims makes perfect sense, and I look forward to building on previous collaborations with CITB through this new strategic partnership.”
Sarah Beale, pictured, chief executive at CITB, said the partnership would “attract new entrants and meet the challenges of a changing economy”.
She added: “Innovation is at the heart of this partnership and we look forward to finding new ways to help the industry in Scotland take full advantage of the training and technology that can transform the way we work.”
The partnership will also benefit from a joint research programme, marketing productivity projects, and the development of new courses and modules for the industry.