Are apprenticeships key to tackling the skills crisis?

Actis’ Mark Cooper welcomes the changes to apprenticeships, but warns that a longer-term strategy is required to tackle the housing crisis and skills shortage.

During National Apprenticeship Week in February, the government in Westminster announced significant changes to apprenticeships. The need for GCSE maths and English was removed from the list of criteria required to undertake a construction apprenticeship, and the current 12-month training period was reduced to eight.

By removing academic restrictions that can prevent young people from pursuing careers in construction and shortening the length of training to remove economic barriers, it is hoped that the numbers joining an apprenticeship could increase by an additional 10,000 a year.

This is very much a step in the right direction. Actis has long been a champion for encouraging more young people to join the industry as the UK grapples with a skills shortage. It is involved in school and college outreach initiatives to encourage more young people to consider careers in construction and also helps upskill existing construction professionals via its RIBA-approved CPD.

The predicted boost to apprenticeship numbers from these changes is welcome, yet a report by Checkatrade showed that the UK needs 1.3 million skilled workers. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Strategic Plan 2025-29 emphasises the importance of collaboration, with industry and UK government investment in skills and training development to address this skills gap. The plan’s objectives are:

• to inspire and enable diverse and skilled people into construction by increasing new entrants through various routes. CITB will promote construction careers to 5 million potential new entrants and develop materials and campaigns showcasing construction as an exciting career option
• to develop a skills and training system to meet the need, simplifying it and making it more responsive. CITB will increase capability and capacity in construction training provision; and
• to support the industry to train, develop and retain its workforce. CITB will offer flexible and funded options for employers to upskill their workforce and implement better practices in quality control, project management, leadership and digital skills.

Picking up the slack

Many areas of construction do require highly skilled professionals however, there are some areas such as off-site construction that require practical training and could be carried out by apprentices while they learn.

With off-site-constructed homes some elements are very mechanised, ensuring consistent good quality. Elements such as wiring, plumbing and insulation take place in a factory. Actis’ own insulation systems take 25-50% less time to install than traditional alternatives, which all helps to speed up the process. The on-site build element typically takes between seven and 12 days, depending on the size of house. While they are quicker to build, the quality of off-site homes is controlled, making it an excellent place for apprentices to begin their careers.

Off-site construction is also an excellent way to build more homes in less time. Perhaps this new tranche of workers may make useful reinforcements to achieve the government’s aim of building 1.5 million homes during the current parliament?

While it is pleasing to see that these changes to apprenticeships are removing barriers and potentially encouraging more young people to consider a career in the built environment, there also needs to be a long-term strategy.

It must be a strategy that addresses the skills crisis without any loss of quality in the workforce or the built environment; a strategy that translates apprenticeships into skills and skills into the homes we need.

For more, visit insulation-actis.com
CITB’s Strategic Plan 2025-29 b.link/CITB_plan25

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