About the Rural Trades Network

The widespread shortage of skills in construction and related rural and heritage trades is nationally acknowledged. It is estimated that nationally the construction industry alone will need an additional 380,000 workers over the next five years. The increasing scarcity of appropriately qualified, skilled labour is already having an effect on the industry's capacity to resource domestic and commercial building, preservation and maintenance projects.

In the heritage sector, despite the flow of substantial funds into the repair and restoration of traditional structures and landscapes, the skills base has not grown to meet the demand. A sustainable future for landscapes, habitats and buildings in Craven and the Dales depends upon the availability of people with a wide range of specialist craft and conservation skills skills that are increasingly difficult to find.

Local research in Craven shows that this skills shortfall has to be addressed through the development of a district infrastructure that supports local employers, identifies job vacancies, registers labour availability and provides easy access to appropriate training resources.

View a map in a pop-up window, showing the area covered by the project.

How this will help

The development of a Rural Trades Network will be the foundation for a rural trades communication network in Craven and the Dales. It will:

• underpin a dynamic communications network that will support and develop employment and training opportunities in rural trades including construction, heritage, countryside skills and conservation.
• give rural trades businesses an opportunity to market their own services, advertise permanent vacancies or temporary labour shortages.
• allow individuals to promote themselves according to their location, their skills and availability in the local employment market.
• allow potential customers to register their requirements with details of project type, location and timescales.
• facilitate access to training information and training providers.
• introduce register users to a range of business support services and other suppliers.

Registration and access to the register is free for the first 12 months after which time there may be a small charge to maintain entries for certain categories of user.

Project Partners

Funding for the initiative has come from the Learning and Skills Council North Yorkshire, as part of a contract with Yorkshire Forward to deliver the skills elements of the Sub Regional Action Plan (SRAP).

The project is being developed in association with:

• Craven College
• Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
• QDK Limited

We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the following organisations:

• Tyro Training
• Craven Area Learning Partnership