**The government has announced that up to 60,000 more engineers, brickies, sparkies and chippies are to be trained by 2029 to deliver its housing ambitions.**
In her [Budget speech](https://eandt.theiet.org/2024/10/30/autumn-budget-sets-out-restore-economic-stability-number-measures-affecting-engineering) last autumn, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the government is committed to building 1.5 million “safe and decent” homes over the next five years.
Ahead of the Spring Statement, she has announced £600m worth of investment to train up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers.
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 rebuild our roads, rail and energy infrastructure.”
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there is a significant shortage of those with the skills needed to construct new housing including engineers, brickies, sparkies and chippies.
The latest ONS figures show that there are over 35,000 job vacancies, and employers report that over half of vacancies cannot be filled due to a lack of required skills.
This demand will only set to increase with the ramp-up of construction to meet the government’s 1.5 million new housing target.
As such, the funding and reforms announced by the Chancellor will help address the large-scale skills shortages in the construction sector.
£100m will help fund 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges and £165m will go towards colleges to help deliver more construction courses.
A further £100m will go towards Skills Bootcamps in the construction sector to ensure new entrants, returners or those looking to upskill within the industry will be able to learn.
All Local Skills Improvement Plan areas will benefit from £20m to form partnerships between colleges and construction companies and boost the number of teachers with construction experience in colleges.
Construction will also be one of the key sectors that will benefit from new foundation apprenticeships backed by an additional £40m. This will launch in August 2025 to help inspire more young people into the construction industry.
Employers will also be provided with £2,000 for every foundation apprentice they take on and retain in the construction industry.
A further £100m of government funding, alongside a £32m contribution from the Construction Industry Training Board, will fund over 40,000 industry placements each year for all Level 2 and Level 3 learners – those studying NVQs, BTECs, T-levels and advanced apprenticeships.
An additional £80m capital fund will support employers to deliver bespoke training based on their needs.
To ensure employers are able to work collaboratively to secure the workforce needed to meet future demand, the government will sponsor a new Construction Skills Mission Board, which will develop and deliver a construction skills action plan and provide strategic leadership to the construction sector.
Mark Reynolds, co-chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, said: “It’s a hugely significant funding package, and the establishment of the Construction Skills Mission Board will enable us to collaborate with the government to drive change at pace.
“Understandably, construction firms across the country are looking for certainty of pipeline before they commit to investing in new jobs and skills – but this investment by the Chancellor will be critical in giving them the confidence they need. There is now no excuse – industry must embrace the government’s growth mission and match their ambition.”
Steven Boyes, deputy CEO at housebuilder Barratt Redrow, said: “Construction faces a long-standing skills shortage at a time when we are challenging ourselves to build even more much-needed new homes across the country.
“I started out as a trainee on a Barratt Homes’ construction site 47 years ago, and so welcome this significant, long-term investment in skills, which will create real opportunities for people of all backgrounds to build a successful career in homebuilding.”