Construction Skills Mission Targets 100k Extra Workers

THE CONSTRUCTION Skills Mission Board will meet today, 26 June, to set a strategy for recruiting an additional 100,000 workers a year by the end of the Parliament.

The Board was established by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to support the government’s commitment to invest an additional £625 million in construction skills.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will co-chair the first Construction Skills Mission Board with CLC Co-Chair Mark Reynolds.

The Board will develop specific initiatives and actions to deliver the mission, while supporting the Government to shape, develop and deliver skills policy.

The actions will focus on five key areas to drive increased recruitment:

• confidence to employ and invest;
• clear new entrant pathways;
• access to provision & support to train;
• funding that works; and
• reliable and rewarding careers.

The Board says it will work with industry bodies to ensure these actions are rolled out across the sector.

Construction Skills Mission

Part of the mission includes Jobcentres working more closely with the construction industry to offer work experience and tailored placements to meet the needs of employers and jobseekers.

More than 40,000 industry placements will be funded through a further £10 million from the government, alongside a £32 million contribution from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

From August, new construction foundation apprenticeships, backed by an additional £40 million, will also provide young people at the start of their career with a route into construction. The scheme comes as part of the government’s Youth Guarantee to give youngsters skills in a range of specialist occupations, as well as employability skills and behaviours.

Organisations can support the mission through engagement with their relevant trade body.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson commented: “The construction sector is on the frontline in our mission to grow the economy, giving more people skilled jobs building the homes and infrastructure we need.

“The Construction Skills Mission Board will make sure we hear directly from employers about what their skills needs are, driving our reforms and helping more young people achieve and thrive.”

Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council and Co-Chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board, added: “Construction will be essential to delivering growth and investment across the UK and so it is vital that we now step up as a sector. The Construction Skills Mission Board represents a new partnership between industry and government, working together to find industry-led, collaborative solutions to delivering the workforce of the future.

“I am delighted that we have seen such strong support from Ministers and some of the most important leaders in our sector – and I hope everyone will play their part in the delivery of this essential mission.”

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