Rachel Reeves has announced that the government will fund the training of 60,000 construction jobs in tackling the skills shortage
60,000 engineers, bricklayers, electricians and carpenters will be trained by 2029, says the chancellor, as she has detailed reforms and investment into boosting industry skills.
The construction skills package will encourage young people into the trades
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that currently more than 35,000 job vacancies, with more than half of these struggling due to a lack of skills, according to employers.
To combat this, the new construction skills package will allocate £100m to funding 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges, and £165m will be put towards more construction courses in existing colleges.
Construction sector Skills Bootcamps are also set to receive £100m to facilitate further skills enhancement.
Areas within the Local Skills Improvement Plan will see £20m to improve cooperation between colleges and construction companies and allow colleges to ensure they have teachers with construction experience.
£40m will be put towards new foundation apprenticeships which will launch in August this year. These apprenticeships are intended to encourage more young people into the construction industry.
£100m of government funding, alongside £32m from CITB, will be put towards more than 40,000 industry placements for Level 2 and Level 3 learners and those in NVQ’s, BTECs, T-levels, and advanced apprenticeships.
“We are gripping the lack of skilled construction workers”
Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said: “We are determined to get Britain building again, that’s why we are taking on the blockers to build 1.5m new homes and rebuild our roads, rail and energy infrastructure.
“But none of this is possible without the engineers, brickies, sparkies, and chippies to actually get the work done, which we are facing a massive shortage of. We’ve overhauled the planning system that is holding this country back, now we are gripping the lack of skilled construction workers, delivering on our Plan for Change to boost jobs and growth for working people.”
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: “Skills are crucial to this government’s mission to grow the economy under our Plan for Change, and nowhere is that clearer than in the construction industry.
“We are being held back by the largescale skills shortages in the construction sector which is a major barrier to the delivery of the growth mission.
“These measures will break down barriers to opportunity for thousands of young people, helping them to thrive in – and build – their local communities.”
Mark Reynolds, executive chair at Mace, and co-chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board and of the Construction Leadership, said: “This is fantastic news and demonstrates that Government is committed to working with the construction industry to deliver 1.5m homes by the end of this Parliament and its ambitious plans for infrastructure delivery. It’s a hugely significant funding package, and the establishment of the Construction Skills Mission Board will enable us to collaborate with Government to drive change at pace.
“Understandably, construction firms across the country are looking for certainty of pipeline before they commit to investing in new jobs and skills – but this investment by the Chancellor will be critical in giving them the confidence they need. There is now no excuse – industry must embrace the Government’s growth mission and match their ambition.”
The reforms and plan ahead of the Spring budget can be read in full here.
