MSP urges construction industry to take advantage of the skills of young people
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has urged representatives of the construction industry to engage with young people at an earlier age than they currently do.
Speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, the Scottish Conservative Skills Spokesman asked Professor Robert Harstans of Napier University about the potential of offering school students foundation apprenticeships focused on Construction sector. Mr Halcro Johnston suggested this move might help integrate increasingly important digital skills in the sector.
Jamie asked Professor Harstans: “I was wondering whether getting that involvement earlier into schools would be something that would be of interest, and also might be an opportunity to integrate some of the digital skills that you’ve been talking about.”
Professor Harstans agreed, saying: “We could be encouraging kids to think of what could be done to deliver the future built environment… and what’s really neat about it is the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) oriented skills that they would pick up during that process. As we know the younger generation are very digitally aware so their engagement with that type of process can be a lot easier for them.”
Professor Harstans also felt that the universities and their students could do more to encourage the engagement of schools.
He said “We have tried to encourage student mentorship so having students from the university go in and facilitate learning because sometimes the school teachers don’t necessarily have the knowledge or background to deliver it but we can encourage a mentorship model to encourage it. It can be a tool for further learning. Whether that individual goes into a career in construction of the built environment or not, the education that it can provide, the understanding and the problem solving etc. can provide a much wider educational basis.”
Jamie asked Stephen Good, the Chief Executive of the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, whether this innovative approach could attract more women into the workplace.
Mr Good said that just 11% of the workforce is female. “Industry has work to do…Better balance delivers better businesses.”
After the meeting Jamie said: “It is encouraging that representatives from industry and education recognise that the construction business has to take better advantage of the skills of our young people.
“There is still a job to do to make building our physical infrastructure more attractive, particularly to young women, but at least we are seeing a recognition of the need to be more creative and engaging.
“In my role as the Scottish Conservative Shadow Minister for Jobs, Employability and Training I am constantly looking for ways to shape policy that will create opportunities for our young people. It is heartening to know that leaders of the Scottish construction industry also recognise the need to do more.”
