 The courses will cover basic building skills |
A new scheme is under way to try to encourage more young people to join the construction industry. Oxford-based not-for-profit organisation OCDA is to run training schemes in an effort to get 16-18 year olds into the building industry
The course is aimed at youngsters who have not done well academically.
Some 380,000 people will have to be recruited over the next three years if government targets for new housing, roads and schools are to be met.
A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Standards Unit said: "This is a first rung on the ladder. It is a good opportunity for young people to get an introduction to the industry."
Despite reasonable pay and the appeal of working outdoors and overseas, the industry says it is still suffering from an image problem.
Jon Cross, OCDA managing director, said: "It's no good hoping for workers from abroad to fulfil our building requirements.
"We have to both grow our own staff and extend the capabilities of those already in the industry."
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It's no good hoping for workers from abroad to fulfil our building requirements. 
