Tuckett is chair of the Contractors Council at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce which is launching a Construction Group Training Association (GTA) to push through the initiative.
The innovative partnership with local authorities will look to boost construction apprenticeships in the region over the next two to three years.
Trainees will be employed by the GTA and work for various contractors during their apprenticeship.
Around 50 north west construction companies have already signed-up and the initiative will be officially launched tomorrow night in Salford Quays.
Tuckett said: “We see this collaborative effort as a vital step not only to secure the long-term future of our industry, but to drive sustainable economic benefits in our region.
“While trying to secure the long-term future of the three million people our industry already employs, we must focus on developing the right skills for the future.
“To do this, we must harness the collective power of our industry to explore where opportunities will lie, and jointly develop the skills that will be needed to fulfil those opportunities.”
Clive Memmott, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Construction is an industry that has had difficulty with apprenticeships in the past, because many contracts only last for a limited period of time.
“The aim of the GTA is to bring contractors together to create a range of flexible work placements, enabling the apprentice to work on more than one contract at a time whilst being employed by the GTA.
“This will give young people a greater number of opportunities to complete an apprenticeship, at a time when there are still skills shortages within the construction industry, and provide sustainability and stability for the future.”
For further information about the Construction Group Training Association, contact Jocelyne Underwood on 07850 928732, or e-mail: [email protected]