Civil engineering course launched to address skills shortage  

Key stakeholders across industry and academia in Scotland have joined forces to deliver a new civil engineering course. 

The Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) has worked with Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland (CECA), Fife College, UHI Inverness, UHI West Highland and UHI Argyll to introduce the programme from August. 

The CECA Scotland Academy Construction Operations NPA course has been developed to meet the growing demand for more civil engineering professionals who can help construct the infrastructure projects outlined by the Scottish Government. 

Applications are now open for the 18-week course at all four colleges. It is aimed at young people interested in studying the practical skills they will need to prepare them for employment as a civil engineering operative. 

The course will be project based and the majority of the skills will be taught on site.  

Each student will be guaranteed an interview for a job following completion of the programme. Employers have signed up to guarantee employment for 75% of the successful graduates. 

Grahame Barn, chief executive of CECA Scotland, said: “The CECA Scotland Academy is an industry-driven programme designed to create a pathway from full-time education directly into the Scottish civil engineering sector.  

“Each student will complete an entry-level qualification. The course is open to all young people – irrespective of academic level, sex or background.  

“Everyone who successfully completes the full-time training course will be guaranteed an interview with a civil engineering contractor, with a realistic ambition of employment for everyone who completes it. Further on-the-job training will take place in full-time employment.”