Industry
Education & Training
Start working with Phelan...
ECDL Contractors engages in numerous activities locally to help address the nationwide skills shortage, from inspiring primary school children to consider the industry as a career to actively supporting our local further education providers so they can continue to provide invaluable training for our own staff. We engage with young people of all ages to support them on their path to a future career, including attending school assemblies, speaking with children on site when working at schools, and organising a site visit for a local year 3 class to attend the extension and refurbishment of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester and its roman remains.
Moving ahead to secondary school education, ECDL Contractors take an even more hands-on approach in ensuring that children are given the opportunity to learn about the diverse career opportunities available within the industry, as well as beginning to learn the skills that would lead into a professional apprenticeship.
ECDL Contractors are co-sponsors of the Class of Your Own ‘Design, Engineer, Construct!’ qualification at Clacton Coastal Academy school, which provides students with accredited key stage 3, 4 and 5 qualifications in the subject and covers all aspects of planning and designing a sustainable building.
Along with our financial contribution paying for course materials, we more importantly dedicate our time to supporting the staff and pupils in achieving the best possible grades, including attending interview workshop days to offer feedback and advice for students, and offering work placement and apprenticeship opportunities for the students.
Furthermore, we have a profile on the Icanbea website to guide students throughout the region into a construction career.
In 2018, we committed £25,000 to turning the Clacton campus into a bespoke ‘Construction Skills Centre’ – a partnership spanning the next five years.
As part of this, we attend all the college’s careers events and Essex Construction Skills Board meetings, plus offer apprenticeship opportunities where possible. The new centre, which enables unemployed adults to find a path into skilled employment or affords unskilled workers an opportunity to up-skill, was launched in March 2019 and in the first few months, the centre reached over 100 applicants for the trade courses that they offer.
Moving ahead to secondary school education, ECDL Contractors take an even more hands-on approach in ensuring that children are given the opportunity to learn about the diverse career opportunities available within the industry, as well as beginning to learn the skills that would lead into a professional apprenticeship.
There is a nationwide shortage of skilled construction workers, which ECDL Contractors recognises can only be solved through the commitment of those working within the industry. As such, we have resolved to take on new apprentices each year, with this pledge being honoured through our membership of the 5% club.
