One of the main takeaways from the Chancellor's recent spring statement is the government's pledge to boost skills in the construction sector through more funding.
Building more homes is a cornerstone of its long-term economic growth strategy, so ensuring the country has the skilled people to make this happen is essential.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "Boosting skills in construction is a crucial part of delivering on this government's plans to build 1.5 million homes in England this Parliament and progress vital infrastructure projects. At Spring Statement, the government is committing £625 million in England over four years to boost existing training routes, ensure a sustainable flow of skilled construction workers and support employers to invest in training. This is expected to deliver up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers this Parliament."
Skills Bootcamps and Apprenticeships
As part of these plans, the government has committed an extra £100 million to support 35,000 construction focused skills bootcamp places, offering a pathway for new entrants, reengaging 'returners', and upskilling existing employees.
And the statement also holds some welcome news for apprenticeships.
The government announced it is investing a further £40 million on 10,000 more places on its new construction Foundation Apprenticeships, which it says, will give young people a high-quality entry route into a rewarding career.
A further £165 million has been earmarked for providers to deliver additional construction courses, while a new Teacher Industry Exchange scheme to attract industry experts to teach in Further Education is also being launched. And, on top of that, £100 million is being spent on setting up 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction in every region in England.
In line with these aims, the Chancellor's statement added: "The government is committed to working closely with industry to remove barriers and unlock investment in training. In support of this package, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is doubling its New Entrants Support Team (NEST) programme to support employers, particularly small businesses, to recruit and retain apprentices. CITB has also committed £32 million to top up the government's £100 million investment to support over 40,000 industry placements in construction each year. The government is also launching an £80 million capital fund to support employers to deliver bespoke training tailored to their needs."
Plugging the skills gaps
The CITB has warmly welcomed the government's plans to boost skills in its sector, with its CEO Tim Balcon, describing it as 'once-in-a-generation chance to recruit and train the construction workforce'
"The Government's continued support for the construction industry through increased investment in construction skills is extremely welcome. As an industry, we need to collectively grasp this opportunity and be better at shouting about what a fantastic industry this is, the prospects it can offer people, and attracting people into pursuing a career in construction."
Latest figures from the CITB published in February, showed that there were 33,000 construction apprenticeship starts in the academic year 2023 to 2024 - an improvement since the pandemic but still a long way short of what the industry needs. The CITB has said the number of people starting apprenticeships needs to triple to plug labour shortages. Like other sectors it is seeing an increase in the number of experienced, skilled workers reaching retirement and needing to be replaced.
Its report adds: "We estimate that apprenticeship starts would need to increase two or three times on present levels to fulfil recruitment needs - even taking other routes into industry into account."
The report also reveals that only 50% of people starting an apprenticeship make it to end point assessment and come out with a qualification.
And, with only 21 per cent of construction firms surveyed employing an apprentice, and just 10 per cent having more than one, it calls on industry leaders to 'motivate, incentivise and support smaller companies to take on apprentices.'
Finding the right apprenticeship
There's no shortage of training options for employers and apprentices looking for an apprenticeship programme in construction and the built environment.
A quick search on the government's own apprenticeship website will bring up a standard for almost every construction-related job you can think of. It covers everything from level 2 and level 3 courses in skills such as bricklaying, roofing and plastering as well as professional construction courses for roles that include building surveyor, civil engineer, quantity surveyor site engineer and structural engineer.
In regard to training providers, many college tutors currently teaching construction and related industries have come from an industrial background. Measures announced in the spring statement are designed to encourage more industry experts to follow them into FE.
CITB apprenticeships and NEST
The CITB has plenty of information on its own apprenticeship schemes, aimed at employers and prospective apprentices. Its website also features a section on NEST, the New Entrant Support Team, highlighted in the spring statement.