Former chief construction adviser Paul Morrell has been appointed to review the UK’s industry training boards, including the CITB.
Robert Halfon, minister for apprenticeships and skills, announced the review today (Wednesday), saying: “The government’s ambitious infrastructure and housing plans require a step up in capability and capacity in the construction sector.
“Training boards can help deliver the skills we desperately need and I look forward to seeing some real recommendations from this review.”
The review comes after the publication of Mark Farmer’s review into construction efficiency last week, Modernise or Die, which recommended an overhaul of the CITB.
Morrell is a former senior partner of Davis Langdon. From November 2009 to November 2012 he was the UK government’s first chief construction adviser and instigated the Government Construction Strategy, published in May 2011, which championed collaboration and the use of information technology and BIM.
Steve Radley, director of policy at CITB, commented: “The Farmer report and this review raise a number of important questions about how to transform the performance and productivity of construction, and how CITB needs to reform to support this.
“It’s excellent news that Paul Morrell has been appointed to advise, as he knows the industry inside and out.
“We are working closely with government to ensure the review produces the right outcomes for industry, so that together we can help our sector modernise and grow.”
It is to be hoped that Paul Morrell talks to the whole industry about CITB and not just the usual suspects. 85% of the work is carried out by specialists who train people and employ apprentices and need a CITB that is responsive and focused on the correct provision. The current regime is at best questionable with little or no experience of the industry it serves at a senior level
Not a good appointment, he did not do much good as the governments advisor and he is from the wrong side of the industry. His only interest seems to be his own profile and ego!