Arc Partnership and Nottingham Trent University have announced a new strategic partnership focusing on developing career pathways for growing local talent across the construction sector and sharing insights and opportunities of the skills needed by the future workforce.
The partnership will explore areas of mutual benefit and take a collaborative approach to the sharing of knowledge in response to sector challenges.
The partnership will include working with research groups from the University’s School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment and sharing learning from the EnergiSprong approach used by NTU in its Remourban EU Project, a scheme which explored the retrofitting of residential properties in Nottingham.
Arc Property Services Partnership Limited, trading as Arc Partnership, supports public sector clients in the creation of efficient, safe and sustainable land and property portfolios. Formed in 2016 as a Joint Venture Company between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, its services include multi-disciplinary property design, consultancy, master planning, regeneration, project and programme management, emergency, reactive, risk management, asset management, and planned maintenance.
Dan Maher, Managing Director of Arc Partnership, said: “Against the backdrop of a climate emergency and the local economy rebuilding itself post-pandemic, a focus on employability and maximising the skills and knowledge to deliver on Nottinghamshire’s net zero ambitions has become mission critical.
“But it’s no secret that the construction industry is faced with a large skills shortage that may affect its ability to tackle these challenges. Our partnership with Nottingham Trent University will enable us to share our industry insight and pool resources to nurture the talent of the future and help to plug the green skills gap.”
Executive Dean Andrew Knight echoed the sentiment, adding: “Working closely with Arc Partnership presents a unique opportunity for our students to gain first-hand experience of working in industry, allowing them to learn about the real challenges facing professionals.
“It will also enable our students to provide potential solutions for businesses which may not have been considered before, helping shape the sector of tomorrow in new and innovative ways.
“We have ambitions to develop a centre of excellence for low carbon construction skills and retrofitting expertise to help create and retrofit buildings to meet all of society’s sustainability expectations. We see Arc Partnership being pivotal in the development of this, and providing the essential bridge between industry and academia.”
Councillor Reg Adair, vice chairman of the Economic Development and Asset Management Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council said the tie up between the private, public and university sectors was vital as so many new industries are coming to the fore.
Councillor Adair said: “Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce and they need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for jobs in the construction, energy and technology worlds going forward.
“Nottinghamshire County Council recently declared a climate emergency and we are putting the green agenda right at the heart of our pledge to achieve Net Zero by 2030. This is the trajectory of most companies throughout the country and gives a clear indication that the green agenda and achieving Net Zero targets will very much be at the core of local authority and private industry’s plans for the foreseeable future.
“That is why a partnership like this is so important so that we can garner knowledge from industry and the workplace to inform universities of the skills and training needed for jobs over the coming decades. This in turn will no doubt have a significant knock on effect for the economic prosperity of Nottinghamshire.”
