A major new initiative aims to accelerate homebuilding in the UK by creating thousands of construction apprenticeship opportunities annually. Backed by a £140 million investment from industry
leaders, the project will establish 32 Homebuilding Skills Hubs designed to fast-track training for critical construction trades.
The new hubs will add 5,000 apprenticeship places each year, equipping workers with essential skills in trades such as bricklaying, roofing, plastering, scaffolding, electrical work, and carpentry. The initiative is a collaboration between the government, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), and the National House-Building Council (NHBC). It aims to address the urgent need for skilled workers in areas with significant housing demand while supporting the government’s mission to stimulate economic growth.
The purpose-built hubs will offer accelerated apprenticeships, allowing participants to complete training in 12-18 months, compared to the traditional 24-30 months. This faster pathway ensures that construction workers can enter the workforce more quickly, contributing to the nation’s housing goals and creating high-skilled job opportunities.
Skills England will collaborate with local employers to identify regions where construction workers are most needed, ensuring targeted training and job placement. This initiative will also enable businesses to access a pool of highly skilled workers, helping to address labor shortages and support regional economic development.
Earlier this week, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith held a roundtable with Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, Industry Minister Sarah Jones, and Social Security Minister Stephen Timms to discuss how government departments can align efforts with industry leaders. The meeting focused on achieving shared goals of delivering quality homes while creating jobs and boosting the economy.
Today, the Skills Minister is set to visit Oldham College, one of the institutions expected to benefit from the initiative, to meet students and learn how the hubs will help them build their careers.
The project plans to roll out all 32 training hubs by 2028, targeting areas with the greatest need for homebuilding. These hubs will provide a realistic, hands-on training environment, preparing apprentices for immediate contributions to construction projects.
By combining faster training programs with targeted regional support, the initiative is poised to deliver thousands of skilled construction workers annually, driving forward the UK’s efforts to tackle the housing shortage and promote long-term economic growth.