28 June 2024
The recent graduation of the latest cohort from the NPA Civil Engineering Operatives course at Fife College highlights a significant step in addressing the pressing skills gap in the civil engineering sector.
Civil engineering is essential for maintaining local infrastructure and transport links, but the industry has an ageing workforce. This course provides a crucial new pathway to attract and retain fresh talent. A collaborative effort between Fife College, CECA Scotland, and other partners, it’s designed to equip students with essential skills and provide a direct pathway into employment, with interviews arranged immediately after graduation.
Given Scotland’s ambitious Net Zero targets, aiming for net zero emissions by 2045, the role of civil engineering is crucial in preparing national infrastructure for a sustainable future. Decarbonising the economy and transitioning to renewable energy sources requires a skilled workforce to build and maintain the necessary infrastructure. The course not only addresses the ageing workforce in civil engineering but also aligns with the national effort to reduce carbon emissions, ensuring Scotland meets its environmental goals.
The course's practical approach, involving hands-on training and site visits, ensures that graduates are well-prepared for the demands of the industry. The involvement of civil engineering firms in the graduation event, such as Morrison Construction and Balfour Beatty, underscores the industry’s commitment to integrating new talent and supporting the transition to a sustainable infrastructure.
Dennis Savage, Assistant Vice Principal at Fife College, emphasised the benefits of this collaborative effort between Fife College and CECA Scotland for students:
“We’re delighted to celebrate the success of the latest CECA Scotland Academy graduates at Fife College. This course represents a very positive step in addressing the current shortage of workers in the civil engineering sector. Civil engineering offers a wide range of career paths, playing a big role in Scotland’s infrastructure, making it an essential field.
“Having started my own career through a similar course, I understand the boost and opportunities it provides. Now, as Assistant Principal, I see firsthand how it equips students with the skills and understanding needed to thrive in this industry and contribute to vital projects.”
Grahame Barn, Chief Executive of CECA Scotland, highlighted the importance of this course in creating a sustainable pipeline of talent for the civil engineering sector:
“We have a rising workload and an ageing workforce, so it’s critical that we get these young people into the industry to cover those who are going to retire, but also to address the increasing work that we’re going to see in the future [due to Net Zero targets].
“There are so many different pathways these young people can take in their career within civil engineering, so there’s a lot of opportunities that are available to them now and in the future.”
For more information about our partner, CECA Scotland - Scotland's sole trade body for civil engineering contracts - click here.
