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A deal has been struck between the College of Further Education and leading figures in the construction industry to try and safeguard the island's apprenticeship scheme.
Serious concerns for the future of the scheme, which had previously been widely praised, were raised when plans to slash the funding side of it were announced.
After members of the Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association and others lobbied for a new deal, it's now been confirmed that a new agreement has been reached. It's an interim deal, for two years, while talks continue to try and come up with a longer term plan.
The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture said it listened to those concerns. In a statement ESC said:
"Following the launch of the changes in October 2018, a number of concerns about the grant element of apprenticeships were raised by the construction industry. Over the last few months further consultation has taken place with representatives from the Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association (GBTEA) and Construction Industry Forum (CIF) on behalf of the construction industry, which has resulted in the proposals relating to the grant being amended. The Committee for Education Sport & Culture have agreed the new proposals for an interim period of two years so that further work can take place with the construction sector specifically."
Pictured: The GBTEA was involved in the talks with the College of FE over funding for the island's apprenticeship scheme.
Tim Guilbert, Chairman of the Construction Industry Forum, said:
‘The Construction Industry Forum Executive and members have for many years worked closely with the College and have specifically had regular meetings regarding the provision and delivery of the apprenticeship scheme and other construction related courses.
‘We clearly recognise the College is challenged to cut costs and adopt a user pays approach as with so many other areas of today’s Island Life driven by our current States of Deliberation policy.
‘That said we are delighted both the College and The Committee for Education Sport & Culture have listened to and taken on board the concerns of our industry, we are encouraged by the changes to the proposals and will continue to work closely with all parties to ensure the final proposals meet our industries needs and allow the continued promotion of the apprenticeship scheme as an excellent pathway into the Guernsey Construction Industry.’
As well as a new funding deal, ESC said it also plans to "transform the apprenticeship scheme." It said those plans have also been "welcomed by industry sectors across the Bailiwick." That part of the plan means that from 2019, there'll be extra apprenticeships available across a wider variety of industries.
They'll include apprenticeships in Retail, Care and Early Years, and will also include English and Maths support for apprentices.
There are also plans to mark the 70th anniversary of the island's apprenticeship scheme, which will involve leading industry figures who went through the programme themselves, some many years ago, as well as today's apprentices.
Pictured top: An agreement was reached over States funding for apprenticeship schemes.
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