About Us

The partnership initiative, Learn Direct and Build, is meeting industry needs by developing an e- and blended learning solution to the dual problems of training new youth and adult entrants to the built environment industry and up-skilling the existing work force.

Initially it obtained funding from learndirect scotland and CITB-Built environment Skills to develop materials for the areas of management, craft and health and safety learning.

The success of these modules has lead to a market-driven demand to add to this initial provision and also to develop learning to facilitate the acquisition of:

• Core skills, employability skills and basic skills and built environment knowledge amongst young people and adults entering or thinking of entering the built environment industry.? Essential sole trader and owner manager competencies, especially for owner managers who are also still on the tools.
• Site management, project management and technician skills for building and civil engineering, thus ensuring a clear progression route for craft workers.
• Additional craft skills for the purposes of multi-skilling.
• Specialist and traditional craft skills relating to conservation and restoration and the maintenance and repair of historic buildings.

As parts of our remit we ensure that Learn Direct & Build provides:

• Involvement of all relevant partners including employers and the federations in the development stage and is available to learners, employers and FE colleges throughout Scotland as and when needed.
• The meeting of identified industry and learner and tutor/trainer needs.
• Cost effective training solutions.
• The use and development of appropriate and innovative pedagogical approaches.
• The transformation of current built environment education and training. Making it flexible, adaptable and sustainable whilst being attractive to and enjoyable for learners, tutors and

OBJECTIVES

Learn Direct & Build undertake to develop blended and e- learning materials of the highest quality to support learning related to the built environment sector in order to:

• Support built environment education and training wherever it is being delivered in Scotland.
• Provide e and blended learning in a variety of modes and VLEs, demonstrating full interoperability and SCORM compliance.
• Support the delivery of SVQs, Modern Apprenticeships, HN and professional qualification provision.
• Support small businesses in terms of both training and development.
• Contribute to training in rural and island areas of Scotland.
• Create learning opportunities for those considering a career in the built environment.
• Provide learners with experience of lifelong learning from general operative and craft level onwards to equip them to adopt lifelong learning habits and to use e learning throughout their career.
• Meet the education and training needs of supervisory and management staff in the built environment industry.
• Develop stimulating learning materials especially in respect of areas of the curriculum that are difficult to teach.
• Provide learning materials for students who through ill-health or other reasons miss part of a training course.
• Ensure that repair and maintenance training is supported through e learning.

To this end we will focus on:

• Enhancing youth entry – it will provide induction training and knowledge and understanding of the industry
• Developing adult entry - it will provide the same facilities for adult recruits and potential recruits
• Developing craft, technician and management skills
• Developing specialist and additional skills – through learning materials for conservation, restoration, repair and maintenance of existing and historic buildings
• Promoting workforce development – by helping to up-skill small built environment firms
• Creating capacity and developing institutions - by creating a virtual centre and help desk, developing the flexibility of delivery for FE Colleges and adding value to the Learn Direct and Build initiative
• Raising awareness of the industry – by persuading employers of the need to train and making workplace and out of hours training more accessible

In addition, Learn Direct & Build will:

• Demonstrate to the built environment sector the advantages of relating to a digital, smart, successful Scotland.
• Encourage individual built environment companies, including SMEs and micro businesses to develop competitiveness, sustainability and growth
• Support individual employers to develop management, leadership and enterprise skills
• Encourage employees to engage with and buy into lifelong learning and continuing professional development
• Assist new recruits to access learning as a prelude to entering the built environment industry
• Further social inclusion by helping individuals gain employment related skills
• Strengthen the local communities by helping to create a strong local economy