Pave Aways has become the first Employer Client to join CITB’s National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC), while also becoming the first contractor in Shropshire to adopt the nationally recognised framework.
The partnership with CITB reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to developing construction skills, creating employment opportunities and delivering meaningful social value through every project.
Construction Director Jamie Evans said:
“Innovation is an important part of how we deliver our projects, and the National Skills Academy for Construction gives us a new way to identify social value opportunities from the earliest stages of our schemes. Whether that’s through site tours for local students, work experience, apprenticeships or other community initiatives, it gives our clients clear evidence of the lasting impact their investment is creating.”
Developed by CITB alongside the construction industry, the National Skills Academy for Construction uses a project-based approach to embed skills, training and community engagement into construction projects from the earliest stages. The framework helps clients, contractors and supply chain partners maximise opportunities for apprenticeships, work experience, education and local employment, while demonstrating the lasting social value created through investment.
Finance Director Charlotte Davies said:
“More than a third of our workforce started as apprentices, which shows the long-term value of investing in local talent. With six new apprentices joining us later this year, the framework gives us a consistent way to maximise and evidence the value of our apprenticeship programme.”
The first project to adopt the National Skills Academy for Construction framework is Pave Aways’ new SEND hub at The Grove School in Market Drayton.
The partnership was marked during a visit to The Grove School in Market Drayton, where Welfare and Training Manager Sabrina Davies accepted the National Skills Academy for Construction certificate from CITB’s Trevor Oakley. She was joined by Managing Director Steven Owen, Site Manager Simon Gough and Multi-Skilled Property Maintenance Apprentice Harrison Roberts.
As part of the initiative, pupils are already taking part in work experience placements on site. Next week, the project team will deliver a brickwork demonstration before returning after the summer holidays to host site tours and further work experience opportunities, giving students first-hand experience of careers in construction.
Commercial Director Victoria Lawson added:
“We’ve already seen the difference collaborative working can make through our partnership with the Shropshire Community Foundation, showing how targeted employability initiatives can create real opportunities for young people around our projects. This framework provides a consistent way of bringing our clients and supply chain partners together around shared social value ambitions, making it easier to deliver locally focused outcomes on every project.”
Managing Director Steven Owen said:
“Becoming the first contractor in Shropshire to join the National Skills Academy builds on the opportunities we have been creating through our projects for decades. Working alongside CITB reinforces our commitment to delivering the highest standards expected by our local authority partners while strengthening the work we have been recognised for through our King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity.”
The framework will be embedded across future Pave Aways projects, helping the business identify social value opportunities from the earliest planning stages and ensuring skills development remains at the heart of project delivery.
The framework also complements Pave Aways’ wider social value ambitions by creating a consistent approach to working alongside clients, local communities and supply chain partners to deliver meaningful outcomes beyond the construction programme.
As part of the initiative, pupils are already taking part in work experience placements on site. Next week, the project team will deliver a brickwork demonstration before returning after the summer holidays to host site tours and further work experience opportunities, giving students first-hand experience of careers in construction.
The partnership marks another step forward in Pave Aways’ commitment to investing in people, strengthening communities and ensuring every project creates opportunities that extend well beyond the finished building.