ConstructionSkills has hit back at criticism over the government’s handling of the new construction and built environment diploma (C&amp;BE), which is due to be introduced for 14 to 19-year olds in September. The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), a member of the Construction Confederation, recently claimed that employers did not have adequate information on the role of the diploma or how they could get involved. “The government has done an incredible amount of promotion for the diploma with the distribution of leaflets and CDs,” stated Nick Gooderson, ConstructionSkills’ head of standards and qualifications. <br><br>“We have run a series of regional awareness events for employers and we are producing an employer guide.” Gooderson explained that the roll- out of the diploma had been controlled, so employer response to it may have been muted: “The government has been cautious. There was a feeling of not wanting to build up people’s hopes.” CECA claimed that “employer engagement had been at best, limited.” However, according to ConstructionSkills, 70 employers are now on board to help deliver the diploma: “Everything is looking good – we’ve even sent CECA a database of all employers involved. We’ve established a national employers group and government has spent a …