Govt invests £140m to tackle construction skills crisis
32 so-called Homebuilding Skills Hubs will be created across the country, with places most in need of new houses prioritised.
The government, which is working on the plan alongside the Construction Industry Training Board and the National House-Building Council, has pledged £140m to create the hubs, which will all be operational by 2028.
It will mean that 5,000 more construction apprenticeship places will be made available every year. The announcement is a recognition of the lack of skilled workers in the construction industry that threatens to undermine Labour’s target of 1.5m homes over the next five years.
The purpose-built hubs will provide a “realistic working environment” for bricklayers, roofers, plasterers, scaffolders, electricians, and carpenters to train in. The fast-track apprenticeships offered by the hubs can be completed in 12-18 months, up to half the time of a traditional 24-30-month construction apprenticeship, the government said.
Minister for skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, said: “This government is committed to 1.5m homes being built across this parliament while breaking down barriers to opportunity by fixing our broken skills system.
“If we are to meet this ambitious target and fix the foundations of our economy, we need to ensure we have a skilled workforce, and give more apprentices a foot on the career ladder.”
She added: “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 opportunity.”
