THE Scottish Government was yesterday urged to provide guarantees on the future of a training hub for construction apprentices in Renfrewshire. 

The Inchinnan National Construction College of the government quango, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), has been placed on the market, putting the campus at risk. 

The CITB’s role is set to be outsourced to Shared Service Connected Ltd and 29 training jobs are to be moved from Renfrewshire to their hub in York from February. 

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Bosses at the CITB are confident they will be able to find a training provider in the region and say there is a “high level” of interest in the sale of the college. 

About 6000 apprentices in Scotland rely on the CITB for construction sector training.

The news has been greeted with concern from local MSP, Neil Bibby, who is calling for the workforce to be maintained. 

The Gazette:

Neil Bibby is asking for clarity on the future of the college 

The Labour man told The Gazette: “This news about redundancies is very concerning. It is totally unclear what the rationale would be for uprooting CITB staff with the potential closure of their training facility at Inchinnan. 

“It’s important to Renfrewshire and it’s the only facility of its kind in Scotland too. The Scottish Government should be well aware of how valuable this centre is to the economy. It is based in the Finance Secretary’s constituency, after all.

“CITB must clarify exactly what these proposals mean for the industry and for their employees as a matter of urgency and the Scottish Government should be clear that this first-class facility and its workforce must be retained.”

Alan Ritchie, GMB trade union organiser in Scotland, said any potential closure of the site would be “absolute nonsense” and called on the Scottish Government to act. 

CITB chief executive Sarah Beale said: “CITB is working with its enabling partner, SSCL, to transition services in a phased approach as part of our Vision 2020 reform programme to make CITB a leaner, more agile organisation.”

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A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Skills Development Scotland will engage with CITB to determine how these changes will impact upon employers and individuals in Scotland.

“We will provide support to those facing redundancy.”