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Ed Balls launches new Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment

Sep 2008

The new Diploma in Construction and Built Environment (C&BE) has been officially launched with more than

3,000 students starting the school term on this brand new qualification.

The launch was attended by Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls MP, who visited students in east London on their first day of the course.

The Diploma is set to bridge the gap between vocational and academic studies, and has been developed by Asset Skills in conjunction with employers, learning providers and other Sector Skills Councils.

Mr Balls said: "Education is all about opportunities - a good education opens doors. It is the single best way for anyone, regardless of background, to do well and to gain the skills they need to succeed at whatever they want to do,".

As the Sector Skills Council for the facilities management, cleaning, property and planning industries, Asset Skills is confident the qualification will be of future benefit to employers.

David Bell, Director of Qualifications and Policy at Asset Skills, said: "This is an exciting step in qualifications reform and we are confident it will help produce a highly skilled workforce for the built environment industries. The key now is to maintain the momentum as the number of students taking the course increases."

The Diploma should help young people aged 14-19 realise their potential and gain knowledge and skills in a 'real world' environment. It can be taken instead of or alongside GCSEs, A-levels and vocational subjects, and it aims to equip students with skills they can apply to the next stage of their development; be that university, college or the world of work.

Key facts on the Diploma:

• The Construction and the Built Environment Diploma (C&BE) has been developed by the Diploma Development Partnership (DDP) made up of Asset Skills, ConstructionSkills, Summit Skills, Proskills, Energy & Utility skills and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)
• The Construction and Built Environment Diploma is a new qualification for young people aged 14-19
• So far, 44 areas in the country will be involved in delivering the Construction and Built Environment Diploma and over 3,000 students are confirmed to take the course
• Major contractors supporting the scheme include; Bovis, Laing O'Rourke, Lovell, Wates, Rok, Balfour Beatty, Kier, Persimmon Homes, Carillion and Seddon Group
• By 2011 all students in the country will be able to choose a Diploma in one of 17 disciplines
• There are three levels of Diploma – Foundation, Higher and Advanced – that will be graded in the same way as GCSEs and A-levels
• The Foundation Diploma is equivalent to 5 GCSEs grade D-G; the Higher Diploma is equivalent to 7 GCSEs grade A*-C; the advanced Diploma is equivalent to 3.5 A Levels grade A*- E

For more information on the C&BE Diploma, visit www.cbediploma.co.uk