The Building Podcast
Mark Wakeford is Chairman of the National Federation of Builders, vice-chair at Constructing Excellence Midlands and a Governor at Construction College, Moulton College. He has run a large regional building contractor and now chairs Evoenergy, one of the UK's foremost renewable companies, bringing low carbon solutions to corporate Britain.
Mark talks to leading experts from across the construction sector to discuss issues facing the built environment. He explores various challenges with his guests, who offer solutions, information and ideas that listeners can apply to their own situations, be it in a company, on a project or studying at college.
The Building Podcast aims to provide CPD on the go. Supporting the sector with easily digestible ideas to support a rapidly changing industry!
The Building Podcast
Mark talks to Graham Hasting-Evans
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FE Colleges and other vocational training establishments are the gatekeepers for the construction industry. They determine the numbers, calibre and quality of new entrants to the sector. They are exposed on one side to the changing nature of students, many of whom have had to cope with the consequences of covid, and on the other side with employers who are also facing significant change in their expectation on their new recruits. They have to do this with limited budgets as the Cinderella arm of Government.
Graham Hasting-Evans is the President of the British Association of Construction Heads (BACH) which acts as the focal point for the leaders of these gatekeepers. BACH promotes best practice and thought leadership and acts as the melting point for good ideas across the sector. Graham is very optimistic about the sector, the opportunities facing it and the calibre of people within it. However, he recognises that FE Colleges cannot do this alone and that a much better partnership with industry is needed if we are going to benefit from these opportunities. Much of this partnership comes down to closer collaboration to support lecturers, engage with students and influence the content of courses at a local level. He is also adamant that funding must be improved, which could be supported with a systems approach to training young people that identifies the path that all must follow to become competent.
Listen to this podcast if you want to hear the challenges of education and the opportunities for industry to engage. Listen also if you need to understand the relationship with Government and the challenges that politicians and civil servants ought to be addressing to support these all important gatekeepers to provide best value to our industry.