Building Our Skills has launched an action plan for the next 12 months which it says reflects its commitment to bridging the skills gap by working closely with employers and other organisations to attract new entrants to the industry.

The plan also includes Building Our Skills’ commitment to encouraging employers to upskill their existing workforce, and to encourage them to see the industry as a home for their long-term career ambitions, as opposed to just a job ‘for now’.

According to Building Our Skills, the plan will also showcase the breadth of career paths that the industry affords and says it will be looking for support from the industry to make this resource as complete as possible.

In addition, an employers’ forum is to be created by Building Our Skills to get as much input and support to help promote the industry as widely as possible.

Central to the plan will be a focus on wider engagement with the education sector in order to raise awareness of the industry to a potential future workforce; and identifying and actioning ways to bridge the skills gap through working with people who are seeking a change of direction immediately. The latter means partnerships with the Armed Forces, Ministry of Justice, Department of Work and Pensions, support groups and charities.

The organisation’s focus on the education sector will see it further develop its ‘Inspiring the Future’ campaign. This campaign has been designed by the Education and Employers Organisation specifically to connect the education sector with the world of work.

The plan will also include an ‘Inspiration Days’ programme, designed to open up industry factories and facilities for school visits.

Building Our Skills adds that it has developed a range of academies that are designed to upskill existing industry employees.

Its Inspiring Talent Academy is designed to support employers to be able to inspire and encourage employees to commit to the industry as a long-term home for their career ambitions. Its Practical Training Academy is set up to help deliver a skilled on-site workforce and the Business Academy offers a wide range of learning and training opportunities, including specialist sales training.

A copy of the full plan can be downloaded directly from Building Our Skills website www.buildingourskills.co.uk