Apprenticeships for the construction industry of tomorrow

Companies and/or organisations interested in making a pledge should complete the application form.

Pledges could address, for example:

• increasing the number and quality of apprenticeship places in the construction sector
• introducing elements of training in companies, construction training centres and/or schools that have not previously taken part in such schemes
• strengthening specific training in the construction sector, such as for energy efficiency, resource efficiency or digital economy
• transferring apprenticeship schemes which have proven their success in a country/region to another country/region where no such scheme is being used
• improving existing apprenticeship models, both general schemes practiced in a country/region and specific schemes in individual companies, to increase the quality, efficiency and visibility of such apprenticeship training models.

What's in it for your organisation?

By taking part in this campaign, your commitment becomes visible at EU level. The EAfA serves as a public platform to showcase commitments and to facilitate networking, cooperation and the sharing of good practices.

In 2017, 2 participants from the construction sector received the EAfA Award:

• Schleiff Bauflächentechnik GmbH & Co (SME category) - for integrating refugees into the labour market through its apprenticeship programme
• Hannah Colston (apprentices category) - as an exceptionally motivated advocate of VET and apprenticeships

Current pledges in the construction industry include pledges from the following organisations:

Study on construction sector apprenticeships

Monitoring the learning commitment in construction (3 MB) (2017) – this study has provided an insight into construction sector apprenticeships, while mapping and assessing the implementation of construction pledges submitted until now. It has also compiled an inventory of novel, specific and/or effective solutions to the key challenges surrounding apprenticeships in the construction sector.

Further information

The contribution of combined practical work-based training and theoretical school learning to support youth employment and economic competitiveness is widely recognised. Countries with strong and attractive Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems, and notably those with well-established apprenticeship systems, tend to perform better in terms of youth employment and industrial competitiveness.

A website providing first-hand information about existing initiatives for youth in EU countries has been developed by the Social Partners of the construction industry: www.construction-for-youth.eu.