Saad Farooq of the London Design And Engineering University Technical College in Royal Docks talks opportunity, pathways and links to industry
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“Emotionally it’s very rewarding,” said Saad Farooq, subject lead and teacher at the London Design And Engineering University Technical College (UTC) in Royal Docks.
“Here you are treated as a professional, the pay is great and you’re in a space where your skills are appreciated – it’s a good balance.
“I wrote my masters thesis on bringing young people into the construction industry and my research showed companies don’t always have people from the next generation working for them.
“If we don’t teach them now, there won’t be a workforce in the future – that’s one of the reasons the Government is making a push to recruit more teachers from the industry.”
That’s exactly the context of our conversation.
The Department For Education’s (DfE) latest figures have identified a shortfall of just over 36,000 workers needed in construction each year if the industry’s forecast growth comes to fruition.
It has pledged to train 60,000 by 2029 in a bid to help it achieve its target of building 1.5million homes by the end of the Parliament.
Analysis by the Building Cost Information Service last month found that, so far, 437,900 homes had been delivered and that the Government would fall short of its aim by more than 500,000 at the current rate of construction.
One of many issues facing the industry is that figures from May showed construction, planning and the built environment had the second highest level of vacancies for teaching positions in the further education sector.
Responding to this need, the DfE’s Train Others In Further Education campaign is looking to address this by attracting established construction workers to these roles.
It offers on-the-job training, full-time, part-time and flexible contracts with an emphasis on practical experience being especially sought-after and teaching and academic qualifications not necessarily a prerequisite for employment.
Mindful of the shortfall, the Government is also set to introduce a new Construction GCSE in 2029, designed to encourage more young people to pursue qualifications and careers in the sector.
a new pathway into construction
“I think this is one of the best things the Government has done,” said Saad.
“Students play games and scroll because they want to do things with their hands – they want to tinker, to build things and this provides an alternative to the screens.
“The shortage of workers in industries such as construction is concerning and providing a clear route into the sector at a younger age is a really good idea.
“There’s been a change in what employers expect when their employees come to them – they are now favouring those with skills rather than academic backgrounds.”
You don’t have to spend long at the London Design And Engineering UTC to realise it’s an institution that very much puts the teaching of those skills at the heart of what it does.
Consistently over-subscribed and having recently been judged exceptional in five of the seven categories rated by Ofsted, the college’s two buildings on the edge of Royal Albert Dock buzz with activity.
Sponsored by the University Of East London, it’s also a place deeply connected to industry – its walls are coated with corporate logos that tell of partnerships, collaborations and, crucially, routes to employment.
Its workshops, classrooms and facilities are filled with the industrial-grade kit necessary for its students to gain relevant experience as they progress through its courses starting at either 13 or 16 and studying for the likes of GCSEs, A-Levels, T-Levels and Diplomas that lead to apprenticeships or direct employment in the industry.
Saad, who grew up in Newham, was a student himself when the college welcomed its first intake in 2016, pursuing a passion for architecture in both academia and in industry before returning to teach the next generation.
returning to London Design And Engineering UTC
“Originally I wanted to go back on site after my masters,” he said.
“But I came back, did a trial and I loved it. It was brilliant seeing the students in front of me all wanting to learn my specialism.
“I get to share my love of buildings with them.
“It’s wonderful to be able to provide this support to learners and it’s something people in industry should definitely consider doing.
“The UTC is different to a traditional school, the students are very much hands-on, technical people.
“To teach young people you have to really know and love your subject and be able to communicate that.
“When you’re working in industry, you see things, touch things, smell things – it’s all about passing on those experiences and that passion to the students.
“If you can’t help them visualise it, they’re going to get bored so we need people who can do these subjects justice and also who can bring connections that can help them gain experience and opportunities.”
key details: Train Others In Further Education and the UTC
You can find out more about the work of London Design And Engineering UTC and the DfE’s Train Others In Further Education campaign via these links.
The UTC in Royal Docks.
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