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The UK Government has pledged funding of £22 million which it says will create 17,000 construction jobs in the next two years.

The Construction Skills Fund will be used to create 26 live on-site construction hubs around the UK which will fully train thousands of new construction workers before the end of March 2020.

The scheme is part of recruitment plans to create 158,000 new construction jobs over the next five years in order to keep up with supply for house building targets.

Announcing the scheme, Education Secretary Damian Hinds, said: “It is vital that we have a strong workforce post-Brexit. The Construction Skills Fund will ensure more people gain the skills they need to forge a successful career and help create the skilled workers we need to deliver on our housing ambitions.”

“Today I’m pleased to announce the 26 winning projects that will train up thousands of workers and help tackle the skills shortages in the construction industry. To support this drive further we are transforming technical education including introducing a brand new T-Level in construction, a high-quality technical qualification which will be rolled out from 2020.”

“Whether building new homes or contributing to major infrastructure projects to keep our country connected, working in construction means helping to shape Britain in the months and years ahead,” added Mr Hinds.

Kit Malthouse, the Minister of State for Housing, also commented, saying: “We can’t build the homes our communities need without a dedicated and skilled construction workforce. Our Construction Skills Fund will play a crucial role in training the future labourers required to build more, better and faster homes.”

Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Sarah Beale, welcomed the news, saying: “The Construction Skills Fund can be a genuine game-changer for both the construction industry and the individuals being trained. We have a massive need for homegrown talent and these projects will bring thousands of new people into our sector, giving them the crucial onsite experience they need to start a career in construction.”

“These 26 hubs will be based at some of the most innovative sites in the UK, and CITB will be working hard to make sure they deliver the skills our industry critically needs,” added Ms Beale.

Steve Turner, communications director for the Home Builders Federation, also welcomed the initiative, saying: “We believe housebuilding is a very attractive sector for young people; career options are really good. And we’re seeing a big increase in the number of women joining.”

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