Apprentices needed as 230,000 construction jobs to be created

The Construction Industry Training Board has called for more apprentices as it announced figures today predicting a yearly average increase of 2.5% over the next five years.

A sustained period of growth from now until 2020 driven by infrastructure and housing construction has been forecast in the CITB’s Construction Skills Network (CSN).

Annual growth is predicted across all the UK’s regions and nations up to 2020, with Wales seeing the highest year-on-year growth with 7.1%, followed by the South West (4.4%), London (3.5%), and the North West (2.6%).

Huge infrastructure projects across the UK such as the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, Crossrail, High Speed 2, will see year on year infrastructure growth of 6.1%.

The commercial construction sector is expected to see growth of 3.4% per year, while it is anticipated private housebuilding will finally recover to its pre-economic crisis levels, reaching 26Bn by 2020.

Steve Radley, Director of Policy at the Construction Industry Training Board, said: “We can’t build the Britain we want without growing apprenticeships – and the careers they lead onto. That’s why it is vital that these new statistics, showing solid, sustained growth, inspire more people join the construction industry.

“We also want to attract workers who have left the industry to return, and upskill those currently in the sector, so we can deliver major projects and new housing faster and better.”

In comparison to other European countries, construction growth in the UK will be fourth in the continent until 2017, surpassing Germany, France and Spain.

The CITB will this year launch a series of new partnerships with local and regional training providers to help combat the skill shortage.

The Board has teamed up with the construction industry to help people discover the range of jobs and careers opportunities on offer by creating the Go Construct web portal.

Employment Minister Priti Patel said: “With record employment and rising numbers of people working in construction, this is a fantastic time to take up apprenticeships and gain practical experience.

“We’ve got Britain building again with a 25% increase in the number of new homes delivered over the past year alone and construction workers are benefiting from growing wages too – giving families the security of a regular paycheck.

“Today’s report highlights the great opportunities on offer for people to take advantage of the three million new apprenticeships this Government is delivering.”

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