Multi-million pound Construction Skills Fund launched

Skills Minister Anne Milton has officially launched the £22M Construction Skills Fund to help tackle the industry’s crippling shortage of skilled workers.

It’s thought that 158,000 construction jobs will be created in the UK over the next five years, and the Construction Skills Fund will bring their training onto the construction site, enabling new learners to apply their knowledge in a real-world environment.

The 18-month initiative is funded by the Department for Education and will be administered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). In total, 20 on-site training hubs will be established alongside a host of work experience and placement opportunities, including pathways for the unemployed or those looking to transition into an exciting new career in construction.

“For our economy to thrive we need everyone, regardless of their age or background, to be able to get the training and the skills they need to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Skills Minister Anne Milton. “The Government has committed to building 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s and we want to make sure that we are investing in the UK skills base to deliver this.”

CITB has since called upon employers, housing associations and local authorities to submit their own Expressions of Interest for new and existing on-site training hubs. The funding will only support on-site training provision however, and access to live construction sites is essential to qualify.

Steve Radley, Policy Director at CITB, concluded: “The Construction Skills Fund is a milestone scheme for the sector and provides a significant investment in skills and training. It will help attract new talent and bridge the gap between training and working in the industry. Having training on or near to major projects will reveal what an exciting sector this can be, while also putting new talent in the shop window.”

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