BSCA CRAFT scheme to tackle skills shortage

The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) is heading off any prospects of a skills crisis affecting the steel construction sector with the launch of an apprenticeship scheme that has already attracted new recruits to the industry.

The scheme, called the Competence Route of Attainment in a Fabrication Trade (CRAFT), covers all aspects of steel fabrication and has already enrolled 14 apprentices with more pending.

“There has been a problem getting skilled workers but nothing was available that addressed the needs of our industry,” said BCSA Director of Health, Safety and Training, Peter Walker.

“A survey of members in 2011 revealed that less than 2% of BCSA members employees were apprentices and most of the 2% was from the larger member companies.”

CRAFT is a scheme based on the traditional apprenticeships that many in the industry are familiar with. However, instead of employees being sent to a training centre a few days a week, this scheme enables someone new to the industry to be trained and developed over a minimum of two years at the workplace, using the company specific systems and equipment.

“There aren’t enough training centres available for our specific needs,” added Mr Walker. “So by training apprentices in-house we bypass this problem, while the employer gets to see the person being trained and see his/her continual development in the workplace.”

There are a number of recommended training modules in the CRAFT scheme for a fabricator/Welder, fabricator or welder.