Future-Proofing the Industry

“Be more present” are words we hear – and remind ourselves of – daily. We spend a lot of time mulling over the past and plotting our future, often failing to live in the moment.

However, when it comes to the construction industry, we can't afford to look back longingly at the "good old days" or accept the status quo. Instead, we must continue moving forward. If this sounds like a rallying cry, it’s simply echoing what I've heard from many contacts in the industry. They say the same things: we need more people to take up careers in construction – and we need them to stay. Without them, who will maintain and expand our infrastructure? Who will build our hospitals, schools, and homes?

This month, the government announced the creation of 5,000 additional construction apprenticeship places in England, thanks to a £140 million investment. It also revealed plans to establish up to 32 new Homebuilding Skills Hubs aimed at training people in construction trades. These hubs will be located in areas identified as needing more housing.

These efforts won’t be undertaken alone. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the National House-Building Council (NHBC) will collaborate with the civil service and Skills England to make this happen.

This is encouraging news, but there’s still much to consider.

David Barnes, acting head of policy and public affairs at The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), said: “This is a welcome move which aligns with CIOB’s long-standing calls for the government to help address the construction skills gap in the UK and deliver a sustainable, resilient construction industry with a guaranteed pipeline of future skills.”

“However, while this is a positive step, it’s far from a complete solution to the housing shortage. We still have a long way to go to address the predicted shortfall of more than 250,000 workers needed to meet construction demand by 2028,” he added.

“We also hope that policymakers will soon focus on increasing the number of building control professionals and local planners to ensure planning applications are approved swiftly and that the necessary checks are made to guarantee high-quality homes.”

If the pay is fair, there's no doubt that apprentices can be enticed to join the industry. But retention remains a significant issue. A report published by the British Association of Construction Heads (BACH) in August 2024 revealed that 47% of construction apprenticeships are not completed.

So, what’s going wrong?

Data remains inconclusive, but when apprentices were asked why they left, the largest percentage in The Department for Education’s Exit Feedback (May 2024) cited insufficient support from employers. This suggests that many employers could do more to retain their apprentices.

Other surveys report conflicting results, so it’s fair to say that the situation remains unclear. One thing, however, is certain: collaboration is key—and that’s something everyone agrees on.

We cannot place the onus on any single group. Instead, training providers, employers, the Department for Education, and, crucially, the apprentices themselves need to work together.

Only with all these elements working in harmony can we ensure the industry’s future.