The employer wants to offer face-to-face intensive training (maybe 3-4 hours per day for up to two months), augmented by directed IT-based learning, so workers can gain sufficient English for jobs overseas. The workers current level of English is low. They have various technical specialistions related to industrial construction (e.g. electrical, scaffolding, warehouse, piping, civil and structural technical engineering). They need to be able to speak, listen and understand English in their working technical environment. Internationally-recognised certification at the appropriate level will be required.

A pilot, to enable the approach to be explored and refined to maximise its effectiveness for learners and employer, needs to start in May. Assessing the learners’ level of English at the start of the pilot to establish a baseline to measure progress against would be one aspect. If successful, a substantial expansion of the programme (to 3,500+) during the second half of 2014 and the first half of 2015 is expected.

Expressions of interest from providers with relevant expertise and existing resource in place to run an initial pilot from May 2014 are invited.