The GCSEs mix design and planning with practical skills

The former CBI chief is launching a construction training centre at an academy in Bury, Lancashire.

It is one of the schools and colleges piloting the GCSE, which mixes training in bricklaying and woodwork with planning and design skills.

It is not clear how this sits alongside a new Diploma in the same subject.

Thousands of firms in the North West of England - as elsewhere - are struggling to recruit enough workers with the basic skills they need.

Challenge

Sir Digby said he wanted to use his visit to highlight not only the importance of vocational skills, but also how those skills could build young people's aspirations for their lives as well as for their careers.

"Demand for skills in this country is too low and it is vital that we develop more employable skills - skills in terms of behaviour and a desire to learn as well as in a craft or trade," he said.

"I want to challenge employers in the North West to improve the skills of their workforces or face a serious threat to their competitiveness."

Learning should not just stop after school and college, he said.

"If government, employers and training providers join forces to meet employer demand with the right skills and investment, we can tackle the skills famine damaging our economy."

DIY

The GCSE in construction and the built environment replaces similar level GNVQs of the same name.

Exam board Edexcel sees it as enabling students to progress to a variety of career options including apprenticeships and further study leading to a degree or professional qualification.

But it also suggests students might just wish to study the subject to broaden their curriculum and give them a good grounding in DIY skills.

'Complementary'

What is not yet clear is how it will sit alongside the new specialised Diploma in the same subject, which is one of the first five Diplomas being taught from next year in England.

A spokeswoman for Edexcel said that was an issue for the Department for Education and Skills.

"Hopefully the two qualifications will be valued the same. It will have a PR job with parents and students to make sure that the qualifications have equal footing.

"As far as we are concerned we see the two qualifications as being complementary."

The department said it was too early to say how the two would dovetail.

A spokeswoman said: "Students will be able to choose diplomas alongside GCSEs or A-levels or in place of them.

"Far from creating a two tier system, we are creating a new system where young people will have more choice about what and where to study and will be better prepared for further study or work."