An Insight into Simian’s Pre-Employment Training Scheme

We recently unveiled our new Pre-Employment Training Scheme (PETS), a scheme developed to support those looking to get back into the world of work and specifically, to help them into the construction industry.

With the government’s pledge to build 300,000 new homes each year, and countless other construction projects now very much back up and running following numerous delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future is looking very promising for the construction industry. But skills shortages have been a worry for the industry in recent years. CV Library found that construction vacancies had risen by an astounding 213% in Q3 of 2020, but the sector also saw a 53% decline in applications per vacancy.

Our Pre-Employment Training Scheme aims to not only increase skills within the construction industry, but also provide improved opportunities for industry outsiders to gain real qualifications and experience to enable them to begin a career within this thriving industry.

How does our scheme work?

Here we look at our set up for the London region, but we are currently building similar schemes across the UK.

Headed up by Business Development Manager for the South East, Sara Calvo, with funding from the Greater London Authority, we work across the 32 London Boroughs. We work alongside a number of job brokerage organisations such as the Job Centre as well as directly with each borough to support unemployed individuals, looking to get back into work, who have shown a keen interest in construction work.

We offer a number of training courses across a variety of specialisms including still fixing, roofing, scaffolding, civil engineering, plumbing and more. Courses last for up to three weeks (15 days overall – though course lengths varies by individual sector), in which delegates will work through a number of areas, including their Health & Safety Level 1 qualification, take part in a CSCS test and complete a five-day work placement with one of our construction partners. Ultimately the scheme allows them to gain key qualifications in their chosen specialism, making them a fully equipped labourer, gain real world construction experience and highlight their skills to a potential employer.

We have already had some fantastic success stories from the scheme so far, read more about these here.

Our scheme will run through 2021 and into 2022, with our dedicated team aiming to provide the necessary skills, experience and knowledge to as many delegates as possible, and get that crucial kick-start within the construction industry.

To find out more or sign up to our PETS courses, please contact Sara Calvo on scalvo@simian-risk.com or call 0345 6022 418.