BuildForce is a new project launched by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Construction Youth Trust aimed at helping people who have left the armed forces to move into construction, building on transferrable skills.
CITB writes:
Finding a new career after leaving the Armed Forces can be tough. But the truth is that many of the skills learned in the services can be transferred directly to the construction industry. CITB wants to attract service leavers into construction through a pilot project it funds called BuildForce.
CITB statistics show that over 200,000 extra workers are needed in the construction industry over the next five years, making recruitment into the industry vital. At a BuildForce event sponsored by construction industry giant Carillion in London this week, service leavers got the chance to find out about the opportunities available in the sector.
Attending the event was Ben Limb, 22, who served five years with the 2 Para Engineers who spoke about how he is building a new career in construction. He left the army last year and, following a BuildForce event at RAF Northolt, was offered a traineeship with large construction firm, Carey’s. Ben said that although he was an engineer in the army he wanted to get into the financial side of construction. After a chat with his bosses at Carey’s they agreed to fund him to study a degree in quantity survey, which he is currently applying for.
Ben’s enthusiasm for his career in construction is infectious: ‘This is the first job I’ve had where I want to go to work,’ he said. ‘If you find something you want to do then it makes life so much easier. Carey’s are lucky too because they’re going to get the best quantity surveyor they’ve ever had!’
Matthew Taylor, 30, spent ten years with 3 Para as the second in command of a patrol, including three tours of Afghanistan. Having completed a mechanical engineering work placement with Carillion, including a stint at Battersea Power station, Matthew applied for a traineeship with Crossrail. Matthew said: ‘I enjoy the way things are put together. I’m particularly interested in mechanical and electrical and want to climb into a management role. As a native Londoner, Crossrail massively interests me and I’m hoping to build a second career there.’
Sally Varley, 54, who served over twenty years with the RAF and now works at Carillion as a Regional Operations Manager, spent the day talking with potential recruits about their CVs and offering advice about how to get into the industry. Sally said: ‘For me, BuildForce is a fantastic opportunity to support service leavers and help them learn more about the construction industry and the opportunities it has to offer. It’s great to be able to highlight all the transferable skills they have to offer and how they can sell themselves. BuildForce provides a platform for service leavers of all ages to launch themselves into a new and rewarding career in construction.’
