Government to launch 5,000 construction apprenticeships

A £140 million industry investment has facilitated 5,000 more construction apprenticeship places as part of an initiative to get Britain building again.

Up to 32 pioneering new Homebuilding Skills Hubs will deliver fast-tracking training and give apprentices vital skills, both of which will boost housebuilding in the UK and drive forward the government’s growth mission. These hubs, set to all be in operation by 2028, will provide a realistic working environment for training in key construction trades, including bricklayers, roofers, plasterers, scaffolders, electricians, carpenters and more.

Working with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the National House-Building Council (NHBC) and Skills England to identity areas that need construction workers the most, the government intends to ensure employers and businesses have access to high quality apprenticeship training. This will kickstart economic growth and create more jobs across England.

These fast-track apprenticeships will be able to be completed in 12-18 months, up to half the time of a traditional 24-30 month construction apprenticeship. Allowing more construction workers to be trained quickly will get more people into highly skilled jobs.

Minster for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, said: “The need to boost our country’s skills is crucial to our mission-driven government, and I am pleased that this initiative will give apprentices skills to seize opportunities.”

Today (22nd November 2024), the skills minister will visit students at Oldham College to find out how these hubs will help them develop their skills.

Roger Morton, director of business change and NHBC’s Multi-Skills Training Hubs, has commented: “Our £100 million investment in a national network of 12 NHBC Multi-Skills Training Hubs will train quality apprentices and help shape the future of UK house building. Our expert facilities will shake-up the industry starting with training in critical areas including bricklaying, groundwork and site carpentry.

“NHBC’s hubs are designed to be flexible, adapting to local housing needs and regulatory changes. Our intensive training will produce skilled tradespeople faster, equipping them to hit the ground running from day one. At NHBC, our mission is to ensure every apprentice meets our high standards, delivering quality new homes the UK urgently needs.

“With funding support through the Apprenticeship Levy and generous grants, I’d say to builders and contractors, there’s never been a better time to invest in apprentices. It’s an opportunity to grow your workforce while offering talented people a rewarding and well-paid career in this essential industry.”

Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said: “It is clear that we need to rethink how we train our workforce and be much more agile in our approach.

“We have worked closely with the homebuilding industry and government to develop a programme that is focussed on equipping individuals with the skills they need to be productive on site, in the most efficient way. This is a truly collaborative approach and one we are very excited about.”