‘Revolutionary’ Olympic skills database launched

The government has teamed up with consultants Davis Langdon and Experian to set up a computer model to work out the skills needed to deliver the Olympics.

CITB–ConstructionSkills, the DTI, the Office of Government Commerce and the Construction Confederation are all backing the scheme, which will provide the public and private sectors with a single database of the skills available and needed in each of the nine regions in England and Wales.

The initiative signals a move by the government to address the construction skills shortage in the face of developments like the Thames Gateway and the Olympic Games. Current figures suggest that 88,000 skilled workers are needed over the next five years.

It is understood the system was conceived after planners discovered there were no agreed statistics on how many skilled workers would be needed for the London Olympics in 2012. Although it is a national programme, there will be a focus on skills in east London.

A board made up of industry and government figures will oversee the system and set an initial number for skilled workers needed nationwide. Additional information from regional development agencies, education experts and industry representatives will be fed into the system to create a single set of figures for the number of skilled workers needed nationwide.

The network will ensure we deliver the right solutions at the right time

Sheila Hoyle, CITB

Experian’s computer model, billed as “a revolution in construction recruitment and training”, will analyse capacity, productivity and skills and produce detailed reports on skill levels and advice on the impact of future trends.

A spokesperson for the OGC said: “We’re delighted to be a member of The Construction Skills Network. Through collaborating with ConstructionSkills on the development and use of the model, OGC will have access to forecasts for regional capacity needs and scenario planning within the industry and across all occupations. This will enable better planning of resources in the public sector.”

Sheila Hoile, skills strategy director at the CITB, said: “A collaborative network such as this will ensure that we’re in a position to deliver the right training and the right solutions at the right time.”

The first full set of figures from network is due to be announced in March 2006. In the intervening period the model is being tested and the arrangements for regional and national boards that will provide input to the model are being finalised.