Mark Clasper, director at Ryder Architecture, explains how PlanBEE is revolutionising the way the built environment industries train and recruit new talent
It’s no secret that the built environment industries are suffering from serious skills shortages but over the last two years, at Ryder we’ve been doing our level best to tackle this.
Since 2016, Ryder has been working with Gateshead College and several top employers in the region to deliver PlanBEE, a flexible higher level training programme designed to attract and retain the brightest new talent, plug skills gaps, and create a more flexible workforce capable of working across several key disciplines. Rather than follow a traditional training model, where students complete their qualifications while working in one company, trainees have had the chance to work in different companies – giving them a more rounded understanding of the industry.
PlanBEE is a bold, innovative scheme that provides a vital pipeline of new talent for companies across the built environment spectrum, such as architects, designers, contractors and engineering specialists. It also creates much-needed jobs for young people. The first group of 12 students have now completed the programme and have been offered positions with some of the sector’s leading employers, including Bowmer & Kirkland, 3E Consulting, Sir Robert McAlpine, Tolent, Brims, Patrick Parsons and, of course, Ryder Architecture.
The beauty of PlanBEE is that it’s been designed by employers, for employers. Together these companies worked with Gateshead College to develop a learning programme that’s tailored to, and directly addresses, their specific skills needs. This approach ensures that companies recruit people who have the right knowledge and aptitudes for the job in hand.
Often companies require a range of different skillsets to complete a project, such as design and digital expertise, knowledge of the latest building techniques, surveying skills and good project management. Traditionally, you wouldn’t find all of these skills in one person. PlanBEE aims to change this by allowing students to work across several disciplines and gain valuable insights into different subject areas.
Ultimately, there needs to be a greater convergence of the skills traditionally sat within the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, engineering, surveying and landscaping. To achieve this, we must change the way training is delivered and that’s why working with Gateshead College for the last two years has been so beneficial. They have an excellent understanding of our industries and the skills we need both now and in the future. They also provide students with great facilities at their Skills Academy for Construction, which has the latest cutting-edge equipment and replicates an authentic working environment.
It’s vital that other training providers, including colleges and universities, show a similar willingness to adapt their learning programmes to suit the needs of industry. For too long, qualifications and degree courses have been unfit for purpose, which has been of little benefit to employers or students. With PlanBEE, companies have access to the skills they need and students, too, get a good deal: a starting salary of £11,383 a year, a professional qualification, a guaranteed job opportunity on graduation and the chance to study for a degree.
Quite simply, there’s no other scheme like it in the UK. PlanBEE is truly revolutionary and could eventually be used as a template for other regions. Importantly, employers and students value it and it’s helping to tackle crippling skills shortages that have held back the industry for too long.
