Can Highland uni course meet civil engineering ‘boom time’ demand?
THE first students of a new course introduced to address the skills shortage in the civil engineering sector have celebrated completion of their studies with guaranteed job interviews.
A graduation ceremony was held at the Fort William campus to celebrate the very first group of students to complete the new CECA Scotland Academy Civil Engineering Operative course.
UHI North, West and Hebrides is one of six CECA Scotland Academy college partners in Scotland.
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Representatives from civil engineering firms across the West Highlands attended the event, including Morrison Construction, RJ McLeod, Bear Scotland, TSL Contractors, BAM Nuttall, Balfour Beatty. They held job interviews with all the students as part of an employer networking event.
The course was designed and supported by The Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland and its industry members as a college to work pathway to creating more qualified civil engineering operatives for the sector.
The civil engineering sector needs qualified and skilled professionals for future infrastructure works.
Major projects include the decarbonisation of the rail network, upgrades to water infrastructure, energy and renewables, major road projects, flood defences, ports and harbour investment, and house building.
The 18-week course provides an important route into the industry with students obtaining an SQA accredited NPA in Construction Operations and their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, which shows employers they have the appropriate training and qualifications to work on a UK construction site.
The course included three days per week in college developing their skills on a purpose-built training site, two days’ work experience with employer TSL Contractors, site visits and campus talks from industry experts.
The students have developed a range of groundwork skills including laying kerbs and channels, excavating trenches and ‘setting out’ design information.
The graduation ceremony included a presentation by CECA Scotland on the opportunities in the sector, and Roddy Ferguson, curriculum manager for engineering, construction and the built environment, who spoke about the hands-on nature of the course and the support provided by CECA and employers.
Lydia Rohmer, principal and chief executive of the college presented students with their awards and in her address said: “This is a proud moment for our graduates, for their friends and families and for the whole community of partners who have walked alongside them during their individual learner journeys, making this course such a success.
“It’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when colleges, industry and sector bodies come together with a shared purpose and ambition and a powerful statement about the confidence placed in our regions young people and our college.
“For our region, this matters deeply. Opportunities like this help our young people build the infrastructure of tomorrow while building their futures and homes right here in the Highlands.”
She told students: “This graduation brings your time at college to an end, but it’s also the beginning of something significant both for you and for our region. I for one will be excited to see where you go next.”
Kerwin Stephen, training manager for RJ McLeod, delivered health and safety awareness training to the students.
He said: “This is a boom time for the industry, but we need to attract more young people in. The companies understand this, and it’s great to see the CECA, the college and employers coming together to deliver this type of hands-on programme.
“After 18 weeks, the students have learned the basic skills and have their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card for working on site – it’s the best start for these students and important if we’re to meet the future workforce demands.”
Annmaria Coletta, a board director of CECA Scotland and delivery support manager at BAM Nuttall Ltd, said: “CECA Academy is unique and truly benefits students as it provides a real experience of working on an operational site.
“The experience, the camaraderie and working as a team is all part of any construction project. Whilst it is hard work and challenging, it is also highly rewarding. Driving past projects in the future they’ll be saying ‘I did that’.
“At BAM Nuttall, we believe in visiting the students several times during the course – it helps us build a relationship with them throughout their studies – we’re invested in helping them develop as individuals and as our future workforce.
“This course, and CECA Scotland helps colleges, helps our industry and provides support to local communities by giving young people opportunities for employment here in the Highlands – so that they can stay and have real life choices right on their doorstep.”
Martin Johnstone, civil engineering lecturer at UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: “It’s been a massive learning curve to successfully deliver this, the first course of its kind at UHI North, West and Hebrides, for the staff as well as the students.
“However, it’s gone really well and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to be able to help the students gain valuable practical skills as well as the crucial elements of Health and Safety needed on modern project sites.
“We are especially grateful for the generous contributions of equipment and resources from our industry partners. From surveying instruments to site safety gear and specialised training tools – their investment has not only enhanced our students’ learning but also deepened the partnership between the college and employers.
“It’s created an innovative and uniquely effective model to deliver the pipeline of skills that are so crucial in meeting the needs of the industry.”
TSL Contractors has supported the course from the outset, providing the students with two days per week of paid work experience in groundwork, which included laying foundations, kerbs and slabbing.
Ian McIntyre, head of civils, TSL, said: “There’s a stark shortage of local civil contractors – currently, 20 per cent of our workforce comes from the central belt because we simply don’t have enough people with the right skills here.
“By supporting this course, we’re able to support the training of candidates locally and employ them directly, which benefits us as well as the wider community. This is a practical, hands-on course that formalises a clear route into the industry. It’s something that’s been needed for decades.
“I’d love to take on some of these candidates on for projects we have coming up later this summer.”
Morrison Construction supported a site visit with the CECA students to their Cowhill reservoir site. Alistair Fraser, construction manager with Morrison Construction, said: “The sector is facing a real challenge with an ageing workforce. This course is a fantastic way to engage young people and encourage them into a career in civil engineering.
“What makes it so valuable is that students are coming into the industry with practical experience, they understand the basic health and safety rules, and they’ve got their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, which is essential for working on site.
“Over the 18 weeks these students have shown real commitment – they’ve turned up every day, they’re eager to learn, and they know what to expect in a site operative role. It is a really important course for the future of the industry.”
Applications are now open for the next Civil Engineering Operative course, which starts again in Fort William in September: NPA CECA Civil Engineering Operative (NPA Construction Operations) SCQF 5 (Fort William).
