Govt invests further £100m in construction training
In a bid to tackle the national skills shortage and provide the labour needed to build its 1.5m homes, the government has selected 10 institutions to become ‘Technical Excellence Colleges’, including Sunderland College.
The aim is to train more than 40,000 future builders, electricians, bricklayers, carpenters, and plumbers by 2029 – although with an estimated deficit of 35,000 job vacancies in the sector today, it will remain to be seen whether this is enough to plug the gap in the future.
Stressing that its focus is on supporting ‘homegrown, British talent’, the statement went on to stress the need for the country to provide skilled job opportunities for the working class, rather than rely on overseas workers.
This announcement is on top of the £625m pledged in the Spring Budget, which will be used to train around 60,000 skilled workers, also by 2029.
The Department for Education and Sunderland College have both been approached for details on how the £100m funding will be split, and how much will be received by the college.
A spokesman from DfE said that regional breakdowns will be determined by factors such as how many pupils each college will enroll, and localised necessity.
Darren Littlewood, chief financial officer at Henry Boot, said: “The government’s investment in Technical Excellence Colleges is a welcome step towards tackling the long-standing construction skills gap.
“But to truly future-proof our workforce, training must go beyond meeting immediate labour shortages – it needs to embed low-carbon construction techniques, modern methods of construction, and digital skills from the outset.
“By combining technical excellence with sustainability and community-focused outcomes, we can create a resilient, high-skilled workforce that not only meets housing targets, but delivers projects that stand the test of time for the people and places they serve.”
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We need skilled workers to deliver the homes, schools and hospitals that communities across the country are crying out for, and today’s announcement underlines our commitment to the next generation of homegrown talent.”
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “We look forward to supporting the TECs as leaders in the construction skills arena, partnering with employers, developing new courses and ensuring that innovation in construction techniques and approaches can be supported across all employers with skills training.
“We are also keen to help the TECs build their networks with other colleges in their areas.”
