£600m funding to Train 60,000 Skilled Construction Workers

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The UK Government has unveiled a £600 million investment aimed at training up to 60,000 new skilled construction workers, strengthening the industry’s workforce.

As part of this initiative, £100 million will be allocated to establish 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges, while an additional £165 million will help existing colleges expand their construction course offerings.

Skills Bootcamps will receive a further £100 million, ensuring new entrants, career returners, and those seeking to upskill can access high-quality training opportunities.

To strengthen collaboration between colleges and the construction industry, all Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) areas will benefit from a £20 million investment. This funding will help recruit experienced construction professionals as educators, passing on vital expertise to the next generation.

The construction sector will also benefit from new foundation apprenticeships, launching in August 2025, backed by £40 million in government funding. These apprenticeships aim to attract young people to the industry, providing a clear pathway to advanced apprenticeships and long-term careers. Employers will receive £2,000 for each foundation apprentice they take on and retain, with full training costs covered by the Growth and Skills Levy.

Additionally, over £100 million in government funding—alongside a £32 million contribution from the Construction Industry Training Board—will support more than 40,000 industry placements annually. These placements, available to Level 2 and Level 3 learners across NVQs, BTECs, T-levels, and advanced apprenticeships, will help ensure students are “site-ready” and reduce the number who leave the industry before entering the workforce.

To oversee these initiatives, the Government will launch a new Construction Skills Mission Board, co-chaired by industry leader Mark Reynolds, Executive Chair of Mace. The Board will be responsible for developing and implementing a construction skills action plan, providing strategic direction for the sector.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized the importance of skilled workers in delivering the country’s ambitious infrastructure goals:

“We are determined to get Britain building again. That’s why we are tackling the barriers to delivering 1.5 million new homes and upgrading our roads, railways, and energy infrastructure.

“But none of this can happen without the engineers, bricklayers, electricians, and carpenters to do the job. We’ve reformed the planning system that was holding us back, and now we are addressing the skills gap—delivering on our Plan for Change to create jobs and drive economic growth.”

This significant investment signals a major push to equip the UK’s construction workforce with the skills needed to meet growing demand and support the nation’s future development.