Almost 10,000 people have completed government-funded construction training through a scheme designed to help jobseekers move into employment, according to new figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
So far, for the 2026/27 year, 9,570 have completed a construction Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), gaining training, workplace experience and access to employment opportunities.
SWAPs are short courses funded by the DWP for people claiming benefits. They combine free, sector-specific training with hands-on experience provided by local employers. Participants who complete the programme are guaranteed a job interview, offering a route from unemployment into work.
Thousands who completed construction training last year moved into full-time employment, while others have become self-employed.
Construction accounts for 17% of all SWAPs delivered so far this year. More than 80,000 people have started a construction programme since April 2021.
The figures come as the government seeks to address skills shortages and support employers delivering housing, student accommodation and major regeneration projects. In the West Midlands, for example, the DWP is working with employers to connect jobseekers with vacancies for labourers, fitters and plant operators.
Working hand in hand with employers
Minister for employment Andrew Western said: “Britain’s construction sector is essential to giving people the chance to get the right skills, experience and support to build a rewarding career.
“That’s why we’re working hand in hand with employers to fill vital vacancies and give more people the chance to secure employment in a growing sector.”
The wider SWAP programme delivered nearly 100,000 starts in 2025/26, including a record 25,000 among 16 to 24-year-olds. This was an increase of almost 15,000 on the previous year.
The DWP is targeting 115,000 SWAP starts in 2026/27.
The programme forms part of the government’s wider Youth Guarantee, backed by £2.5bn of investment, which aims to create up to 500,000 opportunities for young people to earn or learn. Support for employers includes hiring incentives of up to £8,000, fully funded training and work experience placements, and incentives to recruit apprentices. Employers can also access free recruitment support through Jobcentre Plus.
Employer support
Several construction and infrastructure employers have highlighted the role of SWAPs in developing local skills and widening access to the industry.
HS2 Ltd’s senior skills and inclusion manager for the West Midlands, Julie Venn-Morton, said the programme supported efforts to recruit local people, particularly those from under-represented groups.
“We’re proud to have welcomed over 5,000 unemployed people into careers on Britain’s new railway, and for many participants, SWAPs have provided that first step into a role they had never previously considered, unlocking new career pathways and long-term prospects,” she said.
She added that investment in future talent would help create the workforce needed to deliver the UK’s major infrastructure pipeline.
A spokesperson for L&Q said its Skills to Work Programme had been developed with major works partners to identify skills gaps across the construction supply chain and provide training tailored to employer requirements. The pilot is ongoing, with a full evaluation planned to assess its employment outcomes and impact on skills shortages.
Sisk said SWAPs helped individuals develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to enter the workplace, while enabling employers to recruit local talent and address workforce gaps.
Marlborough Highways has also used the programme, working with The Skills Centre to introduce people to careers in highways maintenance. The initiative provided a route into the company’s highways maintenance apprenticeship programme.
And MPB said working with the DWP had helped it shape entry-level training around its recruitment needs, adding that SWAPs had become its preferred route for attracting new talent.
