BESA calls on building services employers to leverage apprenticeships

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has issued a call to action for employers within the building services sector to fully utilise the opportunities presented by this year’s National Apprenticeship Week (NAW).

The aim is to rejuvenate their recruitment strategies and capitalise on the numerous advantages apprenticeships offer businesses.

The 17th NAW, which took place from 5 to 11 February, operated under the banner ‘Skills for Life’, emphasising the diverse range of apprenticeship opportunities available for individuals at any career stage and age.

This initiative arrives at a pivotal moment for the building engineering industry, which is currently grappling with an ageing workforce and a pronounced skills shortage.

BESA has underscored the urgency for employers to tap into government funding for apprenticeships to inject new talent into their ranks and enhance the skill set of their existing workforce.

In conjunction with NAW 2024, BESA has revitalised its ‘Future Skills’ pledge, encouraging all building services employers to demonstrate their dedication to training and recruitment.

By committing to the pledge, employers will assist BESA and its college affiliates in pinpointing and readying the necessary training resources to satisfy industry demand.

BESA commits to engaging with these employers to better understand their needs and to offer guidance on training providers, funding, and accessing suitable candidates.

Last year, over 60 employers made the pledge, and BESA aims to exceed that number in 2024.

Government and industry leaders show support for apprenticeships

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled plans for a £50 million initiative aimed at encouraging apprenticeship training within the engineering sector.

This announcement was made in his autumn statement, detailing a two-year ‘apprenticeship growth sector pilot’ designed to boost the number of aspiring engineers pursuing apprenticeships as a solution to the skills shortage.

Furthermore, from April, the minimum hourly wage for apprentices is set to increase by 21% to £6.40, up from £5.28, marking a significant step towards making apprenticeships more attractive to young individuals, especially considering the current cost-of-living crisis.

The critical role of apprenticeships in the building services industry

Helen Yeulet, BESA’s director of training and skills, has articulated the importance of apprenticeships, stating: “The cost-of-living crisis has made it even more likely that a young person looking for their next step after school will not go to university.

“The chance to ‘earn as you learn’ has never looked more appealing, and organisations like the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) have worked hard to make apprenticeships more flexible to suit the needs of employers and employees at different stages of their careers.”

Yeulet also highlighted the necessity for employers to actively engage in taking on apprentices, noting that government funding covers up to 95% of an apprentice’s training and assessment costs.

This investment is immediately beneficial to businesses, as apprentices contribute directly to their operations.

Statistics from the Department for Education indicate that 80% of businesses that employ apprentices witness an increase in productivity, and 74% acknowledge that apprenticeships have enhanced the quality of their products or services.

The industry’s response to the call for apprenticeships

SES Engineering Services, a BESA member company, currently employs 98 apprentices across various levels and is planning to expand this number.

Steve Joyce, regional managing director, emphasised the value of apprentices in fostering a skilled and qualified workforce aligned with industry needs.

Shakira Green, a building services maintenance apprentice at Dalkia, shared her positive experience, stating: “My BSE apprenticeship allows me to work and learn simultaneously.

“It presents tasks and challenges you would never find in a classroom.”

IFSJ Comment

The Building Engineering Services Association‘s initiative to promote apprenticeships among employers in the building services sector is a commendable step towards addressing the dual challenges of an ageing workforce and a skills shortage.

By facilitating access to government funding and encouraging employers to pledge their commitment to training and recruitment, BESA is playing a vital role in ensuring the sustainable growth of the industry.

The endorsement from government figures and the tangible benefits experienced by companies and apprentices alike underscore the value of apprenticeships as a means of cultivating a skilled, dynamic, and innovative workforce capable of meeting the demands of the modern building services industry.