Government ministers are partnering with industry leaders to launch a wide-ranging construction skills strategy.
The new Construction Skills Mission Board will meet today (26 June) to set out a roadmap for recruiting 100,000 more workers a year by the end of Parliament.
The board has been established by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to support the government’s commitment to invest an additional £625m in construction skills.
To support this strategy, the government has committed at least £725bn for infrastructure over the next decade, as well as building 1.5 million new homes, and retrofitting an additional five million homes.
The board will focus on five key areas to drive increased recruitment:
- Confidence to employ and invest
- Clear new entrant pathways
- Access to provision and support to train
- Funding that works
- Reliable and rewarding careers
CLC co-chair Mark Reynolds will chair the board, and the first meeting will be attended by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, alongside other ministers, and representatives from the supply chain and training organisations.
Reynolds said: “The Construction Skills Mission Board represents a new partnership between industry and government, working together to find industry-led, collaborative solutions to delivering the workforce of the future.
“I am delighted that we have seen such strong support from ministers and some of the most important leaders in our sector – and I hope everyone will play their part in the delivery of this essential mission.
“Construction will be essential to delivering growth and investment across the UK; and so it is vital that we now step up as a sector.”
‘Boom time’ for construction
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also announced plans for the construction industry to work closely with Jobcentres to offer work experience and tailored placements.
More than 40,000 industry placements will be funded through £100m from the government, alongside a £32m contribution from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
Commenting on the announcement, the deputy prime minister said: “Building 1.5 million homes takes investment, skills, and a government that’s ready to roll up its sleeves to deliver. And that is exactly what we are doing.
“Our Plan for Change commits to delivering the biggest boost for affordable and social housing in a generation, which we’ve backed with a £39bn investment over 10 years.
“We’re working hand-in-hand with industry to recruit thousands more workers into skilled construction jobs, and thanks to our Make Work Pay reforms we will ensure these jobs are more secure and better rewarded.”
Tim Balcon, CITB’s CEO, added that by working together, the industry can bring in more diverse voices and encourage more people to consider a career in construction.
“Every year, over 100,000 people receive construction training. I want many more of them to forge lasting careers in the sector,” Balcon said. “This is why the partnership with DWP is so vital, as it helps ensure individuals are not just trained but truly prepared for careers in construction.
“The government commitment to addressing the housing shortage, improving the country’s infrastructure, and investing in construction skills mean this is a real boom time for our industry.”
From August, new construction foundation apprenticeships, backed by an additional £40 million, will also provide young people at the start of their career with a route into construction.
The scheme is part of the government’s ‘youth guarantee’ to ensure every young person is either earning or learning and will offer skills in a range of specialist occupations, such as bricklaying and carpentry, as well as employability skills and behaviours.
Government is already expanding workplace training through Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), with more than 100,000 SWAPs expected to take place this financial year.
The placements offer jobseekers the opportunity to kickstart a new career by providing training, workplace placements, and a guaranteed interview with an employer.
Encouraging collaboration
Responding to the announcements, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has welcomed the government’s plans to improve training and career opportunities in the construction industry.
David Barnes, head of policy and public affairs at CIOB, said: “It’s encouraging to see the government taking the skills challenge seriously and listening to concerns from within the industry.
“Having ambitious targets for building new homes is all well and good, but they will never be met without ensuring the construction sector is equipped with the skilled workers to deliver them.
“While government has talked a lot about addressing the skills gap, it’s now important to move from rhetoric to tangible action and today’s announcement about closer links between industry and Jobcentres and the first meeting of the Construction Skills Mission Board are good examples of that happening.”
CIOB research from earlier this year shows a high proportion of people in the UK think positively about construction careers, including two thirds of 16- to 24-year-olds.
According to Barnes, this enthusiasm should be captured and converted into more people coming into roles, including construction management, planning and surveying, as well as the frontline trades.
He added: “Close links between a wide range of voices from across the industry and policymakers is vital for progress to be made and for government to move towards solving the housing crisis.”
