THE Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has urged employers to take advantage of the campaign created by this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week to address their skills shortages.
The association is promoting the opportunities offered by apprenticeships through its ‘Future Skills’ pledge, which gives companies a chance to register their interest in taking on apprentices and receive advice and support.
By taking the pledge, employers can help the organisation and its college partners identify and prepare the training resources needed to meet demand. BESA will also contact the pledging employer to get a better understanding of their requirements and provide advice about possible training providers, funding, and access to suitable candidates.
Last month’s UK National Apprenticeship Week led to employers pledging to take on a further 100 building engineering apprentices through the BESA initiative.
BESA believes apprentices could provide new skills to help Scottish firms work with emerging technologies including heat pumps, heat networks, and renewable systems.
“Scottish building engineering firms need the new ideas and perspectives that apprentices bring,” said Helen Yeulet, director of competence and compliance at BESA. “This is particularly crucial as we adopt more emerging technologies and processes to address climate change and make buildings safer and healthier.
“This week is a great opportunity for employers to take a fresh look at the ways they seek to recruit and retain new talent – not least because of our pressing need to improve both gender and ethnic diversity across our workforces.”
