22/01/2016

Manpower Plan Launched For The Built Environment Sector

CA offers 112 built environment scholarships to ITE students

The Building and Construction Authority has launched a Sectoral Manpower Plan (SMP) for the built environment sector, to build up a strong core of local talent and meet the future manpower needs of the sector.

The SMP outlines three key strategies. It focuses on attracting and retaining local talents through greater career guidance, creating high quality jobs and attractive career development pathways, and deepening the skills of those already in the sector. It will also identify emerging and priority skills to be developed to meet the evolving needs of the sector, with the support of SkillsFuture initiatives. These two strategies will be complemented by parallel efforts to raise the quality of the foreign construction workforce.

Initiatives under the SMP include scholarship and sponsorship programmes, structured internships, SkillsFuture Study Awards and the new Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) for Diploma and ITE graduates starting this year (please refer to Annex A). Together, these SMP initiatives will help train an estimated 3,000 students and working professionals in future-ready skills in the next three years. This will help meet the target pool of personnel trained in priority skills areas such as green building capabilities as well as productive technologies like digital engineering and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly.

“Global and local challenges such as rapid urbanisation, land scarcity, higher labour costs, an ageing population and environment sustainability will drive the demand for new capabilities in our built environment sector. To meet the future needs of the sector and build the best home for Singaporeans, we need to ensure an adequate supply of manpower that is equipped with relevant skills”, said Dr John Keung, CEO of BCA.

deluge Fire Protection (SEA) Pte Ltd is one firm who is interested in offering the ELP. Its General Manager, Mr Freddie Quek said, “The SkillsFuture ELP is a win-win for ITE and Polytechnic graduates as well as industry firms. The ELP provides an attractive pathway for fresh graduates to gain industry experience and attain deeper skills through on-the-job training. The ELP also benefits employers in helping them attract talent and equip them with in-demand competencies to support the sector’s transformation.”

BCA and eight key built environment sector associations who are part of the Construction Industry Joint Committee (CIJC) also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and drive SkillsFuture initiatives.

“The signing of the MoU reflects the built environment sector’s commitment to support skills deepening and career development, and align existing efforts to attract and retain a pool of highly competent workforce. Collaboration from all industry stakeholders is essential to improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of the sector. The Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL) will continue to encourage our members to adopt good human resource practices to provide more conducive workplaces,” said Mr Kenneth Loo, President of SCAL.

The Sectoral Manpower Plan was announced by Minister for National Development, Lawrence Wong, when he presented 112 scholarships to students pursuing built environment courses at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) (please refer to Annex B).