Demand for additional instructors in bricklaying to address the scarcity of proficient laborers
The construction sector in the UK is grappling with a significant shortage of skilled workers, a problem that is particularly acute in bricklaying. Amidst the government's ambitious goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2028, efforts are being made to bridge this gap through investment, training, and industry collaboration.
The government has pledged £600 million to train up to 60,000 new skilled workers, including bricklayers, electricians, and joiners, by 2029. This investment aims to close the skills gap and meet the increased demand from the housing targets [1][2].
Expanding vocational training routes such as skills bootcamps, foundation apprenticeships, and stronger partnerships between colleges and construction companies is another strategy. These initiatives aim to make construction trades more accessible and appealing as career paths [2].
Upskilling in green technologies, such as heat pumps and insulation, is also being emphasized to bolster workforce capabilities for sustainable construction goals. This move recognizes the need for skilled bricklayers and others in the transition towards greener buildings [1].
Addressing barriers like fragmented training pathways, lack of visibility for new entrants, and workforce retention challenges is crucial. Support for unified and streamlined skills development programs is being provided to address these issues [3].
Industry investment in training and talent attraction, alongside government funding, is recognised as essential for sustainable workforce growth and meeting construction demand. Collaborative efforts are seen as key to overcoming the current labour shortages [2][3].
These government-backed initiatives are essential given forecasts of needing an additional 140,000 construction workers annually across sectors, including 61,000 for housebuilding alone, to meet housing and retrofit targets [3]. However, achieving these goals requires continued effort to attract new talent, modernize training, and improve worker retention.
In the education sector, Mid Kent College, with about 800 students studying construction skills, could teach 2,000 students with sufficient resources. However, the college is struggling to recruit enough teachers due to budget limitations and low pay. Principal Simon Cook emphasizes the need for proper investment in teaching staff to expand programs and meet the growing demand for skilled workers [4].
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is launching website skills hubs to deliver high-quality training and apprenticeships, aiming to create up to 5,000 new apprenticeship opportunities annually. By 2027, the CITB expects to have up to 32 skills hubs in operation, supporting thousands of new apprenticeships and job opportunities across the UK [5].
Industry leaders argue that the skills hubs are only part of the solution and a broader and more sustainable approach is needed to address the underlying issues of recruitment and retention in vocational teaching. The pay gap between teaching and working in the industry is a significant issue in recruitment and retention of teachers in the construction sector [6].
To tackle this, the Department for Education has introduced a £6,000 annual retention incentive for early-career construction teachers in further education (FE) colleges. This move is seen as a step towards addressing the issue of low pay and improving teacher retention [6].
In conclusion, the UK government, in collaboration with the construction industry, is taking significant steps to address the skilled worker shortage in bricklaying and construction broadly. Large-scale funding for training, expanding vocational education, supporting upskilling, and promoting stronger industry collaboration are key strategies aimed at rapidly expanding and improving the construction workforce needed to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2028 [1][2][3].
- The government's education sector initiative aims to teach 2,000 additional students construction skills, but Mid Kent College is struggling to recruit enough teachers due to budget limitations and low pay.
- In an effort to meet the increased demand from housing targets, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is launching skills hubs to deliver 5,000 new apprenticeship opportunities annually.
- Expanding vocational training routes, such as skills bootcamps and foundation apprenticeships, is another strategy to make construction careers more appealing and accessible.
- Addressing barriers like low pay, workforce retention challenges, and fragmented training pathways are crucial for a unified and streamlined skills development program.
- Industry leaders argue that the skills hubs are only part of the solution, and a broader and more sustainable approach is needed to address the underlying issues of recruitment and retention in vocational teaching, including the pay gap between teaching and working in the industry.
