Jon Howlin, CEO of The Skills Centre, comments on the Government’s plans to accelerate the replacement of dangerous cladding

Jon Howlin, CEO, The Skills Centre: “While we welcome the government’s plans to accelerate the replacement of dangerous cladding, it’s crucial to ensure that the work is carried out by fully trained professionals. The scale of the challenge is significant, with only 30% of buildings with unsafe cladding fully remediated to date.

“Many cladding specialists are already supporting efforts to meet this growing skills gap. Our collaborative strategy is delivering specialist cladding bootcamps at Build East, helping to upskill existing workers and bring new entrants into the sector. These initiatives are vital for ensuring that remediation work meets the highest safety and quality standards.

“By investing in workforce development, we can not only tackle the immediate issue but also strengthen the industry for the future, helping to create safer homes and buildings for communities across the UK.

“This is a huge opportunity, not only for those interested in joining the construction sector, but for those in the sector to build valuable and in-demand skills, and individuals can apply via our website here: Introduction to Cladding Occupations | The Skills Centre

“We also invite cladding companies seeking to expand their teams to collaborate with us. Together, we can ensure the workforce is ready to deliver this critical work safely and efficiently. For more information contact info@theskillscentre.co.uk”