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Leo Quinn is group chief executive of Balfour Beatty and founder of The 5% Club
Youth unemployment is an issue I am particularly passionate about, and something that I have spoken about frequently.
It’s of particular relevance to our industry, because we could have a real impact in solving the issue. Our skills shortage is well documented, with an ageing workforce and outdated preconceptions about construction and infrastructure work continuing to discourage new entrants.
The impact of COVID-19 on the lives of young people will reverberate for decades to come. As our country continues to open up after the lockdowns, we have an incredible opportunity to unlock the potential of millions of youngsters, and to ensure they are not permanently disadvantaged by the legacy of the pandemic.
This is an opportunity we should seize with both hands if we are to deliver on major infrastructure projects that are both under way and on the horizon.
Firing up a revolution
In 2013, I founded The 5% Club because I wanted to encourage employers everywhere to ramp up their on-the-job training, to transform employment chances for young people, and to boost our ability to compete in global markets.
The 5% Club now has more than 550 members, large and small businesses alike, operating across all sectors and regions, who all recognise the importance of upskilling the next generation. By signing the club’s charter, each member has publicly committed to having at least 5 per cent of its workforce in “earn-and-learn” positions.
“One priority should be the Apprenticeship Levy, which in its current form does not achieve its aims of recruiting a new generation of construction professionals and upskilling the current workforce”
In the recent Queen’s Speech, the government promised a skills “revolution” for England, suggesting our skills agenda finally now has a seat at the top table. And as lockdown restrictions are eased, the launch of The 5% Club’s new five-point manifesto could not be more timely.
The manifesto contains a series of ambitious proposals, but at its heart is a call for a unified national policy approach. We would like to see a cross-Whitehall skills taskforce to lead the development and coordinate the implementation of all aspects of employment, skills and workplace learning policy, across the country.
If we are to level-up the entire country and build back better, we also need to level-up our earn-and-learn opportunities. One of the key priorities should be the Apprenticeship Levy, which in its current form does not achieve its aims of recruiting a new generation of construction professionals and upskilling the current workforce.
An accessible industry
But if young people are to be encouraged into training positions, these must be accessible for everyone, no matter where they come from or their financial situation. During the lockdowns, it has been encouraging to see businesses rally to provide free IT equipment to disadvantaged students. We must take this one step further and invest in digital skills through subsidised home improvements and major investment in digital hubs across schools, colleges and libraries.
We must also look to create a paradigm shift, moving focus away from qualifications for their own sake. We must ensure that workplace-based learning and further education is given parity of esteem with university degrees.
“If young people are to be encouraged into training positions, these must be accessible for everyone, no matter where they come from or their financial situation”
In construction and infrastructure, we can do that through initiatives such as the Operator Skills Hub launched by Balfour Beatty in partnership with Flannery Plant Hire. The hub is a future-focused centre for plant operators, which capitalises on the latest technologies and simulators to inspire our next generation of talent and change the perception of on-the-job training programmes.
A revolution in skills has been needed for many years – one suggestion the club has come up with is to channel the drive and passion of the Army’s ‘Be the Best’ message, to help squash outdated ideas and tackle the current stigma around vocational training.
Now is the time to come together and ensure we are doing all we can to support the younger generation, who will be so crucial not only to our national recovery, but vital in helping our sector to literally build back better for decades to come.