CIOB welcomes investment in construction skills

CIOB has responded to the UK Government's Spring Statement, made in Westminster on 26 March 2025:

Eddie Tuttle, Director of policy, external affairs and research at CIOB, said: “We're pleased construction is finally being recognised as a key economic driver and welcome this substantial investment.  

“Having continuously called for government to develop a long-term plan to improve the pipeline of people entering the construction sector, we are encouraged by the latest plans to address the ongoing skills shortage by increasing funding for educational and workplace training through an injection of £600m over the next four years.

“However, it will take several years for the thousands of workers the Government is planning to recruit to be trained to a competent standard and ready to work, so the plans are unlikely to have an immediate impact on the industry’s capacity to build the 1.5 million homes the Government is committed to. The impact of the increased funding will not come to fruition until this parliamentary period is coming to an end, so while we very much welcome the plans, we question if this will enable the Government to meet its ambitious housing targets.  

“Our research into young people’s perceptions of construction careers, published in March, found two thirds (68%) of young people aged between 16 and 24 hold a positive view of construction careers and around a third (31%) would consider working in the construction sector. However, almost half (47%) said information about it was not included in the careers advice they received whilst in education.  

“Therefore, vital consideration should be given to how construction career opportunities are promoted to young people if we are to get more of them taking up the training places the Government is planning to create. Construction is a career that has something for everyone. Without proper communication of the varied opportunities within the industry, additional funding towards construction careers will go to waste.  

“We were pleased to learn of plans for the new Teacher Industry Exchange Scheme to encourage industry experts into further education roles to ensure their valuable skills and knowledge are passed on the next generation. High quality training experiences are vital if we are to tackle the large drop-out rates in construction, and thought must be given to ensuring jobs are available for those completing courses.  

“Finally, we welcome the creation of the Construction Skills Mission Board and look forward to hearing more about how it will function. CIOB alone has access to 50,000 members with a variety of expertise in construction. Without the views of those who work for or run their own construction business, we risk the mission board failing to develop the targeted policy solutions needed to address the skills gap in both the short and long term. We urge the Government to set up clear communication channels between the mission board and professional bodies like CIOB.”