James Farr, director at post-16 skills and training consultancy Think\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
In the construction industry, facing complex challenges is part of the daily routine, whether it\u2019s managing budgets, navigating supply chains or ensuring a project is built to the highest standard. <\/span>But there\u2019s another pressing puzzle that must be solved to ensure the sector\u2019s long-term success: the mismatch between the growing demand for skilled workers and the pathways available to young people. <\/span><\/p>\n Entry to the industry <\/span>is an issue that must be addressed to accelerate the sector\u2019s growth and meet future infrastructure and housing demand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe government should make it clear that apprenticeships are the primary route into construction careers\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n According to a Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) projection, more than 250,000 additional workers will be needed by 2028 to satisfy growing demand from infrastructure projects and to meet the country\u2019s housebuilding target. While this may seem daunting, there is a silver lining: an increasing number of young people are showing interest in construction by enrolling on college courses. However, there remains a significant gap in apprenticeship opportunities \u2013 the primary route into many construction careers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Department for Education (DfE) data paints a concerning picture. Between 2022\/23 and 2023\/24, the number of 16 to 18-year-olds enrolling on construction courses grew by 12 per cent, and the rise among those aged 19 to 24 was even higher (20 per cent). However, despite this positive trend, construction apprenticeship starts by under-19s fell by 2 per cent, while Level 2 construction apprenticeships \u2013 typically taken by school and college leavers \u2013 dropped 9 per cent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Apprentices aged 19 and above are no longer required to pass English and maths functional skills courses. While some welcomed this move, it could inadvertently reduce apprenticeship opportunities for younger learners, as providers and employers may increasingly focus on older apprentices who are exempt from these requirements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Apprenticeships remain the main entry point into many construction careers where hands-on learning is essential, particularly in trades like carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Ideally, college courses should act as a gateway to apprenticeships, but for many students, the transition from education to employment isn\u2019t happening as seamlessly as it should.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n DfE data reveals a troubling reality: among the young people completing Level 2 or vocational Level 3 construction courses, only 20-25 per cent progress into \u2018employment with learning\u2019 (usually an apprenticeship) within six months. A quarter find themselves in \u2018no positive destination\u2019, meaning they\u2019re neither in sustained work nor training. Meanwhile, 35-40 per cent end up in jobs without any further training, more commonly in retail, administration or hospitality than in construction.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So how do we address this mismatch?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The solution lies in closely matching education and training pathways to ensure that students transitioning from college to apprenticeships are fully supported. The government should make it clear that apprenticeships are the primary route into construction careers for young people, and that college courses should serve as feeders for these apprenticeship schemes. Additionally, improving the tracking of learner destinations by sector and occupation will be essential for closing the gap between education and employment \u2013 the most recent destinations data relates to learners who completed courses in 2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n More work is also needed to develop accelerated apprenticeships \u2013 programmes that clearly map college courses to apprenticeships so that prior knowledge gained in college can reduce the overall duration of the apprenticeship. This approach is especially beneficial for smaller employers that value apprentices arriving with a solid foundation of skills, which makes the apprenticeship process more cost-effective and efficient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We know there are success stories of employers that embrace apprenticeships as part of their activity to recruit and retain skilled staff. To make this a widespread reality, we must provide greater support to employers, especially small businesses, that often find apprenticeships administratively burdensome. Reducing the red tape would encourage more employers to offer apprenticeships, thereby increasing the number of young people entering the workforce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A strong partnership between the CITB and further education providers will be vital to achieving this. The CITB can be pivotal in supporting employers, offering guidance and alleviating the administrative burden of managing apprenticeships. With this support, more apprenticeship opportunities can be created, benefiting both employers and young learners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The opportunity to expand apprenticeships in the construction industry is here, but it requires collective, sustained action. The government, education providers and employers must come together to create a streamlined pathway that helps more young people transition from learning to employment. This will help ensure the sector has the skilled workforce it needs to thrive in the coming decades.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" James Farr, director at post-16 skills and training consultancy Think\u00a0 In the construction industry, facing complex challenges is part of the daily routine, whether it\u2019s managing budgets, navigating supply chains or ensuring a project is built to the highest standard. But there\u2019s another pressing puzzle that must be solved to ensure the sector\u2019s long-term success: …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":519015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[567,575],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\nWhy apprenticeships matter\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Ease up on the admin<\/span><\/h3>\n