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28th January 2021
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iKBBI unveils historic initiative
The Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers (iKBBI) announced this week an historic and exciting collaboration with PROCAT (Prospects College of Advance Technology), the UK's first college of advanced technology, to create the first ever iKBBI approved Centre of Excellence for KBB installation apprentices.
The monumental agreement will initially enrol around 1,000 16 - 19 year olds as iKBBI Apprentice Members by Christmas 2015 as part of the research and development phase.
The Institute further committed to grow this number to 5,000 by the end of 2017 as part of a national rollout plan. This will allow the KBB industry to start working with an important pool of students via communication, surveying and focus groups.
The iKBBI will work hand-in-hand with PROCAT, which operates over four established centres of excellence in Essex with a view of developing KBB modules to add to the existing syllabus, which currently includes Construction Maintenance, Plumbing, and Carpentry & Joinery.
The plan will be approached in a "staged and managed way," said iKBBI communications manager Denise Mayell, "initially focusing on a general awareness of opportunities within the KBB installation industry amongst PROCAT's student population".
This will involve engaging students throughout the college environment, those already heading into an apprenticeship within the construction industry, as well as those studying in secondary education throughout Essex.
iKBBI CEO Damian Walters commented on the exciting announcement by saying: "Our south-east based pilot will link the iKBBI with - not only the UK's leading technical college focused on advanced apprenticeships, but also to thousands of school leavers and college students; especially those already interested in a career within the construction industry.
"The subject of apprenticeships for our industry should be viewed as a demonstrable challenge; However with a staged approach, starting with the research and development phase, I'm confident that over time we'll be the vehicle for young people to join our industry and a place for reputable businesses who operate within the sector, to find and employ these students as the next generation of future professionals.
"This isn't about reinventing the wheel or unveiling a finished product with promised overnight success. PROCAT has an amazing infrastructure, dedicated team of inspirational tutors and a management team with a clear passion for developing young talent through vocational learning. We'll capitalise on their wealth of educational knowledge and experience and support them to produce modules that will add tangible benefit to their own prospectus.
"Furthermore, we hope that by adding our experience to their team, we'll help them attract more 16+ year olds into the college and subsequently into our industry."
Phil Clark, Head of Faculty - Construction and the Built Environment at PROCAT, commented on the initiative by saying: "In such an exciting growth period for the construction industry, promoting and providing specialist opportunities to our students alongside iKBBI enhances the probability of employment at the end of their study, our ultimate goal for all our students."
23rd October 2015