HBF and CITB launch new fund to train non-construction employees
<p>The Homes Builders Federation and Construction Industry Training Board have joined forces to launch a £1 million fund to train non-construction employees.</p> <p>The fund, which will run throughout 2016, is aimed at ensuring the thousands of non-construction related staff - such as those in sales and marketing or business development employees – are, like their construction counterparts, getting the required level of training to ensure the industry can deliver more, high quality homes.</p> <p>The fund will help HBF members to target training to employees, graduate scheme trainees and those on undergraduate placements to ensure that best practice is applied and high standards upheld. A portion of the fund has also been set aside to fund further training for sales and marketing staff. Driving up levels of customer service is a particular area of focus for the industry as more potential customers visit sales offices and more homes are sold.</p> <p>"The past two years have seen tens of thousands of new people recruited into housebuilding and a significant increase in the number of new homes being built," said HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley. "As we look to increase output still further it is imperative we continue to increase industry capacity and develop the skilled workforce required to build the high quality homes the country needs. We need to ensure every member of staff in every part of the process is trained to the best possible standard."</p> <p>Steve Radley, director of policy at CITB, said: "Industry told us that more needed to be done to address the range of skills challenges in the housebuilding sector. Working with HBF, this new pilot fund is a first step in addressing that important issue."</p> <p> </p>
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