{"id":516992,"date":"2025-03-22T22:48:58","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T22:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=516992"},"modified":"2025-03-22T23:51:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T23:51:11","slug":"600m-construction-skills-package-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/skills\/600m-construction-skills-package-announced-22-03-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a3600m construction skills package announced"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Construction Skills Mission Board will oversee a \u00a3600m package aimed at training 60,000 construction workers by 2029, including 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges, the government has announced.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The new colleges will be backed by \u00a3100m of public funding and will focus on developing advanced technical training in trades and engineering, according to HM Treasury.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>A further \u00a3165m has been allocated to help colleges expand construction course provision.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of this week\u2019s Spring Statement, chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “We are determined to get Britain building again, that’s why we are taking on the blockers to build 1.5 million new homes and a third runway at Heathrow.<\/span><\/p>\n

“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. <\/span><\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve overhauled the planning system that is holding this country back [and] now we are gripping the lack of skilled construction workers…”<\/span><\/p>\n

Skills Bootcamps will also be extended with \u00a3100m of additional funding, offering short-term training to new entrants and those upskilling or returning to the sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

The government said all Local Skills Improvement Plan areas would receive \u00a320m to create partnerships between colleges and construction firms. <\/span><\/p>\n

The goal is to boost the number of industry-trained teachers able to prepare learners for work on site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Foundation apprenticeships in construction will launch in August 2025, with \u00a340m in new funding announced as part of the package.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Employers will receive \u00a32,000 for each apprentice retained under the scheme, which the government said would be funded through the Growth and Skills Levy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The government last year announced plans to reduce the minimum duration of an apprenticeship to eight months from the current minimum of 12 months.<\/p>\n

More than 40,000 industry placements a year will be created for Level 2 and Level 3 learners under a \u00a3132m joint funding initiative with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). <\/span><\/p>\n

These placements will include National Vocational Qualifications, BTECs, T-levels and advanced apprenticeships.<\/span><\/p>\n

The CITB will also double its New Entrant Support Team programme, designed to help small and medium-sized businesses recruit and retain apprentices.<\/span><\/p>\n

To coordinate delivery, the government will set up a Construction Skills Mission Board co-chaired by the Department for Education and Mace executive chair Mark Reynolds, who is co-chair of the Construction Leadership Board.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new board will draft a construction skills action plan and provide strategic oversight for the sector.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Construction skills funding package in full:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

– \u00a3100m for 10 New Technical Excellence Colleges
\n– \u00a3165m for expanding construction course provision
\n– \u00a3100m for Skills Bootcamps
\n– \u00a320m to build partnerships between colleges and construction firms
\n– \u00a340m for foundation apprenticeships (Launching August 2025)
\n– \u00a3100m joint funding for industry placements (supplemented by \u00a332m from CITB
\n– c.\u00a380 million capital pot to support employers to deliver bespoke training<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Reynolds called the announcement a “hugely significant funding package”.<\/span><\/p>\n

He said: “Understandably, construction firms across the country are looking for certainty of pipeline before they commit to investing in new jobs and skills \u2013 but this investment by the chancellor will be critical in giving them the confidence they need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“There is now no excuse \u2013 industry must embrace the government\u2019s growth mission and match their ambition.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Tim Balcon, CITB chief executive, said: “<\/span>As an industry, we now need to grasp this opportunity and play our part in delivering it.<\/p>\n

“I genuinely believe this is a once-in-a-generation chance to us to recruit and train our workforce \u2013 equipping more people with the skills they urgently need now and in the future.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Construction Skills Mission Board will oversee a \u00a3600m package aimed at training 60,000 construction workers by 2029, including 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges, the government has announced. The new colleges will be backed by \u00a3100m of public funding and will focus on developing advanced technical training in trades and engineering, according to HM Treasury. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129711,"featured_media":504118,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[565,575],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n