Regional Funding to Train Next Generation of Construction Workers

This week will see £96 million of government funding allocated regionally to help create tens of thousands of placements on construction sites.

Funding is set to be allocated across the country on Friday 22 May to provide hands-on learning and boost employability for learners who start their construction courses from this September.

The construction industry is facing significant skill shortages, with the latest Office for National Statistics figures showing that there are over 35,000 job vacancies – over half of which are due to a lack of required skills.

Qualifications Plan

It comes as the government has published a plan to transition to a system of post-16 qualifications made up of V levels (vocational), T levels (technical) and A levels (academic).

Announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, V Levels will sit alongside A levels and T levels. Equivalent to one A Level, they will allow students to mix and match academic and vocational subjects if they do not yet know where they want to specialise.

The new system will start from 2027, along with two new qualifications for students needing to gain GCSEs:

• Occupational Certificates: two-year courses for those who want to get into work or an apprenticeship but need support to achieve English and Maths GCSEs.
• Foundation Certificates: one-year courses for students who want to progress to A-Levels, T Levels or V Levels but need extra support to pass their GCSEs.

Boost Housebuilding

New subjects have been announced for the second year of delivery in 2028 that will help to address skills shortages and boost housebuilding. These subjects include construction design, bricklaying and plumbing.

The plan also includes detailed rollout timelines, and advice on content development to help providers transition.

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