Attracting Workforce

Attracting and Encouraging a Diverse and Talented Workforce

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is attracting enough talented people into the workforce from diverse backgrounds to support the sector as the anticipated increase in workload materialises. We are working with members, industry partners and stakeholders to help us attract recruits and persuade parents and teachers of the value of a career in civil engineering.

We will seek, where possible, to embrace and support arrangements that both member and regional bodies already have in place to engage with the next generation of civil engineering contractors in colleges, schools and academies within the region.

CECA (Southern) is proud to have supported The Solent Civil Engineering Employers’ Group, who, in conjunction with Fareham College, is offering an exciting new Apprenticeship programme designed to prepare young people and adults for a career in civil engineering occupations. The Civil Engineering and Groundworks Apprenticeship (CEGA) will enable participants to develop the skills needed to work in a diverse range of construction sites and get paid a wage while gaining a recognised qualification. CEGA will be delivered at The Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC), and the course has been specially designed to ensure all apprentices are job ready after a twenty-week site preparation programme.

We are also proud to have been involved with The Aspirations Academies Trust which has a very successful record in not only greatly improving failing and under-performing schools, but also in developing new, innovative schools. The Trust’s vision is to deliver an authentic education for the 21st century for children from the age of 4 to 19.

CECA (Southern) is also looking to strengthen its university engagement, with initial target universities being Portsmouth, Southampton and Solent, building on existing contacts and developing new ones. We already have a good relationship with Brunel University – see details here.

We are also increasing our engagement with younger members through social media and events. Our Annual Awards recognises our greatest resource, which is our people. That’s why each year we celebrate the achievements of those working in our industry.

Our award categories are:

  • Most Promising Apprentice
  • Most Promising Trainee Quantity Surveyor
  • Most Promising Trainee Civil Engineer
  • Outstanding Contribution/Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Safety Initiative & Innovation

More details can be found here.

Gement Connect – CITB fully funded employment programme – upskilling, retaining and supporting our construction workforce in the UK
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CITB are delighted to announce their newest partnership with Gement in their Connect programme. This programme, fully funded by the CITB, provides a list of online services designed to promote retention within construction and facilitate skill development and career enhancement. The Connect programme runs across England and is open to everyone working in the construction…

CECA NextGen Southern Foundations Group launches ‘Sammi on Site’ storybook
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At the CECA Southern AGM in London yesterday, the CECA NextGen Group launched their ‘Sammi on Site’ storybook. The storybook is aimed at 5 – 8 year olds and the aim is to ignite curiosity about the built environment and the role of engineering in creating the world we live in. Our thanks goes out…

CECA Southern Annual Review 2023
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Click above to read a flip-book version of the CECA Southern Annual Review 2023. To download a PDF version, click here.