Up to £10m earmarked to train the next generation of West Midlands construction workers
A significant funding boost for construction training has been announced, with up to £10 million being made available in the West Midlands as part of a wider £96 million package to create tens of thousands of placements for aspiring construction workers across England.
The funding forms part of the government's £625 million Construction Skills Package, which aims to train 60,000 skilled workers by 2029. It comes at a critical time for the sector, with the latest Office for National Statistics figures showing more than 35,000 job vacancies in construction, over half of which are attributed to a lack of required skills.
For scaffolding and access businesses, developments like this are genuinely encouraging. The skills shortage is one of the most pressing challenges facing the industry right now, with NASC's own research identifying a potential vacancy rate of around 40,000 across the sector. Anything that strengthens the pipeline of young people into construction trades is a step in the right direction.
Alongside the funding, the government has published plans to reform vocational qualifications, with new V Levels, T Levels and updated Occupational Certificates set to be introduced from 2027. New subjects confirmed for 2028 include construction design, bricklaying and plumbing. The changes aim to bring vocational education on a par with academic qualifications and give young people clearer, more accessible routes into skilled trades.
In the West Midlands specifically, the institutions set to benefit from the funding include Heart of Worcestershire College, Newcastle and Staffordshire College Group, and Three Spires Trust.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said the reforms were about "removing the snobbery from hands-on learning" and creating a strong pipeline of workers equipped with the real-world skills employers need.
NASC welcomes any investment that helps address the skills gap in construction and encourages members to engage with local colleges and training providers to make the most of the opportunities these developments will create.
