Bridging the skills gap between manufacturers and education

Bridging the skills gap between manufacturers and education

The UK’s skills gap is one of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry.

Birtley Group has been working with a local college to support the students studying vocational construction courses by offering free building materials.

Graeme Miller, Managing Director at Birtley Group supports the initiative, he comments:

“We really want to support colleges and its students to ensure they are not only gaining a qualification, but they are enhancing their learning with products that are not included in the current curriculum such as complex bespoke lintels and arch formers used in plastering.”

Birtley Group delivered Expamet and Birtley Lintels products to the students so they can gain experience working with both common and the more challenging bespoke products used in construction projects across the UK.

According to a survey from national estate agents, Jackson Stops 77% of respondents wanted to see period style features such as bay windows, which requires a special bespoke lintel design. Offering these products as additional learning resources will prepare the students for their future careers.

Jason Howe, Head of Construction at Newcastle College is looking forward to growing the relationship with Birtley Group,

“These products will really help our students as they will be able to learn new techniques on non-standard products in line with the trends and market demands for period and unique features.  Further Education colleges have been subject to a string of budget cuts over the years, so donations of products allow us to spend our budgets in other areas of the curriculum to give the students the best experience possible. “

For more information about this project, contact us

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