Member Article

Barratt launches campaign to overcome ‘skills time bomb’

With 44% of firms struggling to find skilled construction workers , Barratt Developments, Yorkshire’s largest house builder, is evoking change with the launch of its Up-Skilling Yorkshire campaign. In a bid to help bridge the county’s growing skills gap, the campaign sees Barratt Developments inspiring youngsters into the industry via free careers advice sessions at local schools across the county.

Headed up by the house builder’s Managing Director, Paul Newman, Up-Skilling Yorkshire sees Barratt Development’s calling on schools and colleges across the county to help educate youngsters on the wealth of career opportunities within the construction industry. Paul commented: “This isn’t just about encouraging brick layers into our industry, whilst such skilled work is required, there’s a bigger task in front of us. Children leaving school and college are unaware of the sheer potential open to them – from sales roles, to technical opportunities – so, we’re working hard to change that via our Up-Skilling Yorkshire campaign.”

He continued: “We have recruited the help of our Young Guns – a team of young apprentices, trainees and graduates here at Barratt Developments – to work with schools across the county and help raise awareness of the different opportunities available to them in the sector, with the aim of encouraging new blood into the industry.

“We have already partnered with colleges and school in Yorkshire, including Millthorpe School in York and Malert Lambert School in Hull, which has seen us offering free careers advice to their students - we are committed to continuing this support over the coming months to ensure the message is spread for and wide.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .