Research informing the draft Brownfield Skills Strategy is published today by ASC and national regeneration agency English Partnerships.

The draft Brownfield Skills Strategy, which is open for public consultation until 27th May, is designed to increase the number of regeneration professionals and improve brownfield skills levels in support of government aspirations to build 3 million new homes by 2020. At least 60% of the new homes will be built on redeveloped brownfield sites.

Key findings identified by the published research (Evidence Base) are that by 2012 there could be a minimum workforce shortfall of 75%, or 680,000 workers, engaged in brownfield development, including 300,000 engineers and developers and 140,000 surveyors.

Other findings in the Evidence Base include:

• Labour force projections identify a shortage of 34,000 people by 2012 in regeneration and economic development. Demand for regeneration officers can be attributed to their role as facilitators who drive projects and co-ordinate a wide range of technical activities.
• With 2,000 planning graduates entering the workforce each year, there may be a lack of practical experience. Focus will need to be placed on rapidly developing the new entrants’ practical skills, particularly in new areas such as assessing multi-layered planning applications for new towns.
• The housing and welfare profession has multiple entry points. Entrants to the profession possess a variety of qualifications, ranging from NVQs to degrees, across a spectrum of subject areas, and employers are often willing to recruit staff without a background in housing or the relevant qualifications and train them on the job.

The research was based on a number of initiatives: initial joint scoping work by English Partnerships and ASC; the subsequent publication of Brownfield Skills Strategy – unlocking the potential – enhancing brownfield regeneration skills; and the wide-ranging response to this publication, which directed development of the draft Brownfield Skills Strategy.

Trudy Birtwell, ASC's Director of Learning and Skills, said:

'The Evidence Base is proof of the widespread interest in brownfield skills and provides practitioners with detailed analysis of the major hurdles we face in transforming brownfield land into the communities of the future. It reinforces the need for the sector to work together to secure, retain and develop a highly-skilled workforce with the expertise and confidence to unlock the potential of brownfield land. The consultation is still open and we hope that as many people as possible review the draft strategy and offer their support.'

English Partnerships' Brownfield Advisor Paul Syms added:

'Addressing the brownfield skills gap is a cornerstone of our recently adopted recommendations to Government for the first-ever National Brownfield Strategy, which seeks to unlock thousands of hectares of previously developed land. For this reason, it is important that we receive input into the draft Brownfield Skills Strategy from across the sector, and would urge all interested parties to submit their responses before the May deadline.'

The draft Brownfield Skills Strategy was launched at the annual brownfield conference on 4th March. It is open for public consultation until 27th May 2008, with the results published in autumn 2008.

Visit the brownfield skills strategy section in the list on the right to view the Evidence Base and draft Brownfield Skills Strategy.