The creation of the new body ‘Skills England’ to tackle the construction skills crisis, is a positive move by the new Government, but its success will be dependent on what it prioritises and having a long-term skills plan in place, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB commented: “Over recent weeks the new Government has set out ambitious plans to get Britain building again, but this can only be achieved if the skills crisis is tackled. There is a serious shortage of all trades in the construction industry, with the result that we need additional 240,000+ workers over the next four years. The Prime Minister’s announcement to set up Skill England recognises the seriousness of the problem, but details about how Skills England will operate remain light. It will be vital that future delivery focuses on a long-term skills plan being put in place, and that plans to allow up to 50 per cent of the Apprenticeship Levy to be redirected into other forms of training don’t result in a fall in the number of construction apprenticeships available.”
Berry continued: “As part of the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) will be amalgamated into the new Skills England, maintaining current skill levels, and increasing numbers further, must remain a key focus. It raises a question about what role the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) will play in this new system. We’re still awaiting publication of the Mark Framer performance review of CITB, which may help provide some clarity. The Secretary of State for Education should publish the report as soon as possible to ensure the industry has stability about its future training needs.”
