FETA skills survey highlights industry commitment to training

The results of FETA’s latest training and skills survey suggest that FETA members remain committed to upskilling employees, with 80% of respondents reporting that their business undertakes some sort of formal employee training for existing members of staff.

These findings are taken from a survey recently carried out by the newly launched FETA Skills Working Group – established to identify opportunities to close the skills gap and ensure that FETA continues to address the training and recruitment issues impacting its members.

The skills gap remains a key issue for many FETA members and as well as promoting apprenticeships and staff training, the association has recently been examining the potential of T-Levels as a means to help deliver the skills that are needed in the building services sector.

Results from the latest survey suggest that a significant proportion of members are receptive to bringing in apprentices where possible, with 57% stating that they have considered taking on an apprentice and 32% reporting that they have already taken one on. An impressive 23% of survey participants stated that they have employed 10 or more apprentices.

With T-Levels being in their infancy, there is work to be done by Government, business and places of education to improve awareness and highlight the opportunities T-Levels offer to both young learners and employers. T-Levels are a new generation of technical qualifications offered to post-GCSE learners. They offer a mix of practical and classroom based learning and include at least a 45 day industry placement to equip young people with the core knowledge and skills they need to enter their chosen industry. Despite their relatively recent introduction there are signs that the message is already getting through to business leaders with 20% of respondents to the skills survey stating they have considered taking a T-Level student on a placement.

Notwithstanding recruitment challenges brought about by a shortage of industry specific skills, 78% of survey respondents reported that their organisation had taken on staff at some point in the last three years, overcoming the issues associated with a stretched labour market.

Chris Yates, FETA Chief Executive, commented, “Recruitment challenges and retaining existing personnel have long been identified as key industry concerns. The Skills Working Group is made up of FETA members with a wealth of training and skills experience and is committed to assisting our associations in the development of their own training pathways whilst highlighting schemes and qualifications - such as T-Levels - to FETA members.

“The results of this latest survey suggest FETA members are acutely aware of the benefits of upskilling existing staff and are taking a proactive approach to recruitment in an industry struggling to fill vacancies in a timely manner.”