The UK’s civil engineering contractors today said that the launch of the Construction Skills Mission Board is a ‘significant step’ towards addressing the skills gap and delivering economic growth.
The new partnership between Government and industry comes with a commitment to recruit and extra 100,000 new workers to the construction industry per year and is backed by a £625 million investment to address skills shortages across the sector.
Commenting, spokesperson for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Jemma Carmody, Director of CECA Yorkshire & The Humber, said: “This is a significant step forward in addressing the long-standing workforce challenges faced by our industry.
“CECA has long called for greater alignment between skills provision and employer demand, and the establishment of the Construction Skills Mission Board provides a platform for genuine partnership between government, industry, and training providers.
“We have worked closely with our members, the Construction Leadership Council, Government, and other stakeholders in the development of new funding streams for construction training that reflect the planned pipeline of work and meet the needs of our members.
“The scale of the ambition – recruiting an additional 100,000 workers each year – reflects the urgent need to grow capacity across the entire built environment, not only to meet our housing and infrastructure goals, but to provide rewarding careers for people in every part of the country.
“We particularly welcome the investment in new pathways for young people, including the new construction foundation apprenticeships, and the expansion of Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes. These initiatives have the potential to improve access, diversity, and retention in the sector.
“CECA members – delivering the infrastructure that the UK relies upon – are ready to play their part. We look forward to working with the Construction Leadership Council, CITB, and our partners across the sector to making sure the skills are in place to drive economic growth, boost connectivity, and create rewarding, high-paying jobs across all parts of the UK.”
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