New analysis reveals the trade apprenticeships Brits are most interested in, and crowns Hereford the nation’s leading destination for apprentices. As the UK builds toward a projected shortfall of tradespeople across trades such as construction(1) and electricians(2), new research by tradesman insurance provider Protectivity has set out to reveal where in the UK has the highest interest in undertaking trade apprenticeships and filling the skills gap.  Protectivity’s research analysed Google search data relating to apprenticeships across multiple trades including electricians, bricklaying, and plumbing. The data reveals  that while trades such as plumbing and carpentry generate high search interest, the overwhelming most popular trade for searches related to apprenticeships was from those looking to become an electrician.  The data also shows that based on search interest across UK cities, locals in Hereford are currently searching for trade apprenticeships at the highest volume per capita. The UK’s most in-demand trade apprenticeships(3)     Trade Annual Searches 1 Electrician 1,148,150 2 Plumbing 475,250 3 Carpentry 250,740 4 Bricklaying 197,080 5 Plastering 133,850 6 Welding 110,620 7 Joinery 99,230 8 Painting 81,350 9 Construction 76,550 10 Roofing 28,800 Protectivity’s research ranked trades by which had the largest search interest across the whole of the UK, revealing that the clear leading trade of choice for apprentices right now is becoming an electrician.  Between September 2025 and August 2026, the research found over 1.1 million searches relating to electrician apprenticeships. This is more than double the volume of the second-highest trade, plumbing, and more than the next three trades (carpentry, bricklaying and plastering) combined. The surge in search interest lines up with real momentum in the sector. Department for Education figures show apprenticeship starts in Construction, Planning and the Built Environment rose 5% to 23,900 in the first half of the 2025/26 academic year, while electricians are seeing their pay climb too, with the latest 2026-28 JIB agreement securing a nearly 4% wage increase for the trade(4).  Plumbing ranked as the second most in demand trade for apprentices, with  over 475,000 searches, while carpentry came in third place with 251,000 searches, followed by bricklaying and plastering on 197,000 and 134,000 respectively. The only other trade to surpass 100,000 searches is welding on 111,000.  Yet despite electricians clearly being the trade with the most interest, the pipeline into the profession is under real pressure. Electrical apprenticeship starts in England actually fell by 10% last year, against a projected shortfall of 15,000 electricians over the next five years, according to the Electrical Contractors’ Association(5). England’s electrical workforce has also shrunk by more than a quarter since 2018, from 214,200 to 158,000 practitioners(6).  Ian Hodgkinson, Construction Consultant and Project Manager on BBC DIY SOS(7) talks about how he started his career as an apprentice and why he encourages more young people to consider the apprenticeship route: “I started as an apprentice bricklayer and it gave me a career that’s lasted more than 40 years. I’ve built houses, built businesses, trained apprentices and ended up working on television, all from learning a trade. “A good apprenticeship isn’t a second choice to university. For the right young person it’s a first-class route into work, giving you practical skills, qualifications, experience and the chance to earn while you learn.” Ian also touched on the growing need for skilled tradespeople in the construction industry: “Construction desperately needs the next generation of skilled tradespeople. My advice is simple: learn your trade properly, turn up, work hard and keep learning. A trade can take you much further than you might imagine.” Chris Trotman, Head of Sales and Underwriting, at Protectivity(8) comments: “Ian’s story is a brilliant example of where a trade can take you and why it’s worth seriously considering. A big motivator for conducting this research was news stories breaking this year around a growing shortage of trade skills. The role of an electrician, in particular, has been one of the key areas highlighted by projections so seeing the high demand for electrician apprenticeships is hopefully an encouraging sign for the industry that skills shortages won’t be a long-term issue. “Our study also found that electrician was the most in demand trade for apprentices in all of the cities we analysed. This shows the popularity of the trade, but also the need for young workers to fill skill gaps that cover other trades such as construction and roofing too.” The top cities where trade apprenticeships are in highest demand(3)    City Annual Searches per 1,000 residents 1 Hereford 154 2 Norwich  129 3 Bath 119 4 Worcester  112 5 Lisburn  106 6 Inverness 100 7 Lincoln 96 8 Plymouth  93 9 Manchester  91 10 Portsmouth 90 Protectivity’s research also reveals which UK cities have the strongest overall appetite for trade apprenticeships, with Hereford emerging as the leading city in the UK with a total of 154 annual searches per 1,000 local residents researching available apprentice roles and how to join each industry.  The city with the second highest search interest was Norwich. Aspiring trade apprentices made 129 searches per capita in the last 12 months. Additionally, Norwich was found to be the top city specifically for interest in roofing apprenticeships, and behind only Hereford when it comes to electrician apprenticeships.  Bath ranked in third place on 119 searches per capita, with no other city having more searches related to carpentry apprenticeships than Bath.  Rounding off the top five is Worcester and Lisburn. Worcester ranked fourth on 112 searches per 1,000 residents, with its total boosted by having the third highest search interest from aspiring electricians.  Meanwhile the Northern Irish city of Lisburn ranked fifth on 106 searches. Lisburn ranked as the top city for joinery and tiling apprenticeships. Despite being two of the smallest cities included in the study, two Northern Ireland cities had the highest interest in tiling apprenticeships – Lisburn and Derry.  Chris comments on the research:  “What jumps out is the diverse range of cities in the top 10, with eight different regions represented, along with three of the four UK

A multidisciplinary built environment team appointed to the Rise Construction Framework is preparing to support Raise Up 2026, a careers-focused social mobility event bringing together employers and young people to widen access to information, advice and opportunities. Raise Up will take place at BOXPARK Liverpool on 1 October, bringing together employers and young people from across the region. The event will provide opportunities for employers to better understand the challenges and barriers facing young people not in education, employment or training, while giving young people the chance to meet employers, learn about different careers and explore potential routes into employment. Multidisciplinary team opens up built environment career pathways The framework team is led by ECD Architects and includes Keegans, Stephenson Halliday, RoC Consulting, Nature Positive, Silcock Leedham and Kendall Kingscott – all RSK Group businesses – as well as Evolve for support of the contract BIM consultancy services. The businesses represent disciplines including architecture, landscape architecture, biodiversity, engineering, project and cost management, surveying, building safety, planning, information management and sustainability. Representatives from across the teams are coming together to support Raise Up, demonstrating their collective commitment to the Rise Construction Framework and its social value objectives. With expertise spanning a wide range of disciplines and business functions, the event team will be able to give young people direct access to people working in the built environment and an insight into the breadth of careers available and different routes into the sector. The event organisers have encouraged participating employers to involve people from practical trades, finance, social media and administration, alongside technical and professional roles, to help young people understand that opportunities within the built environment extend far beyond the roles traditionally associated with the sector. Social value extends beyond framework project delivery Social value is central to the Rise Construction Framework. Rise uses profits generated through the framework to invest in initiatives designed to strengthen communities, increase economic participation and reduce pressure on frontline public services. Through its Thrive Careers Hub, Rise supported 172 young people into employment last year, and its work helping young people into education and work received the King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility) in 2024. Rise Construction Framework Director Sarah Lawton said: “Raise Up is an important part of the Rise Construction Framework calendar. Raise Up brings to the fore the importance of social mobility to both business and young people. A one-of-a-kind event Raise Up will see leaders from the world of business, TV, sport and the charitable sector come together to share insights and expertise. Importantly, the event brings together 100’s of employers and young people together under one roof creating opportunity and hope.” ECD Architects Joint Managing Director James Traynor said: “The built environment depends on people with a wide range of skills and experiences. Raise Up gives employers an opportunity to speak directly with young people, explain the breadth of roles available and listen to the barriers they face. By bringing together representatives from across our framework team, we hope to help more young people see a place for themselves in the sector and see the role they can play in addressing climate change and improving the environment in which we all live.” The Rise Construction Framework provides a compliant route to market for public-sector construction works and services across the North West of England, North Wales and Yorkshire and the Humber. It runs from March 2026 to March 2030 and is designed not only to support public-sector delivery but also to generate wider social impact through investment in communities. The framework appointment provides the context for the team’s involvement, while Raise Up offers a way to extend its contribution beyond project delivery. By participating together, the ECD framework partners aim to support Rise’s wider social value ambitions while helping young people understand the breadth of careers available across the built environment and the different pathways through which they can enter and develop within the sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

David Barnes, head of policy and public affairs at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), said: “CIOB welcomes the announcement of new vocational qualifications which will benefit students who may struggle with more rigid academic routes. Construction is a unique industry which offers many great roles both site-based and office-based.  “However, the Government has said Building and Construction could be included as an option, rather than confirming it will be. To help schools and industry plan, we need clarity on what that means, including how subjects will be selected, when consultation will take place and how employers and professional bodies will be involved.  “Our latest research shows there is already a strong appetite among young people to learn more about construction, but that interest is not consistently translating into career choices. Two-thirds (66%) of 2000 16- to 24-year-olds we surveyed have a positive view of construction careers, yet only 30% would consider working in the sector. “Almost half (45%), however, said construction was not included in the careers advice they received while in education, so for these vocational courses to be successful they must be promoted to students and parents as viable options. “Consideration must also be given to the fact that further education establishments are already struggling to recruit teachers for built environment courses, so the Government will need to address the key question of where teachers with recent industry expertise would come from. “We hope ministers will set out a clear timetable for consultation and development, and work closely with industry and professional bodies to ensure any new qualification gives young people a meaningful introduction to the modern construction sector that challenges the perception that construction is solely about physically demanding, site-based work and instead showcases the wide range of professional careers available “We’re looking forward to contributing to that process and opening up meaningful routes to careers in the built environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developers expected to fund new school places across all nine English regions despite pupil numbers falling by 722,000 by 2030 Councils in England should assess demand for school places across local school networks rather than considering each housing development in isolation, according to new analysis by national planning and development consultancy Lichfields. Department for Education forecasts show that nursery and primary pupil numbers are expected to fall by 473,000 by 2030, alongside a reduction of 249,000 secondary pupils. The analysis found that places funded through Housing Developer Contributions are forecast to increase across all nine English regions over the same period. In the North East, for example, pupil numbers are projected to fall by 2.9% while developer-funded places rise by 300%. It recommends that councils consider existing capacity, access to schools and longer-term population changes before deciding whether new provision is required. This should take account of children who move locally but remain at their current school, as they would not create demand for an additional place. Mainstream schools could also introduce SEND units where appropriate, while developer contributions could fund improved walking and cycling routes, crossings or bus services. New schools would still be needed where local provision could not accommodate the number of pupils expected. The findings come as councils plan for further housing growth under the government’s target to deliver 1.5m homes by 2029. Large developments are often planned on the edges of towns and villages, where nearby schools might have spare capacity but are too far away or cannot be reached safely on foot. Councils estimate the number of school-age children a development is expected to generate. Where existing schools cannot accommodate them or are not accessible, developers can be required to contribute towards new provision. Assessing demand across the wider area would help councils provide schools for new communities while making better use of places already available. Housing growth could also support established schools in areas where pupil numbers are falling. Robert Curtis-Haigh, Planner at Lichfields and co-author of the analysis, said: “Our analysis highlights a growing contradiction when planning for housing and education. “The current system places significant emphasis on the pupil yield of individual developments, meaning new school places are often still being planned even as pupil numbers decline and existing schools face falling rolls. “The solution isn’t to stop building new schools or new homes, but to take a more strategic view of how the education system will function over the coming decades. “New schools will still be essential in some locations, particularly where major growth is planned. However, in many cases there may be opportunities to improve accessibility and make better use of existing school capacity, while also recognising that housing growth actually supports those schools that are facing declining pupil numbers.” Read the full analysis here: https://lichfields.uk/blog/2026/august/24/catchment-22-the-education-planning-paradox-nobody-is-talking-about Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A new study today reveals a 95% uplift in construction and architecture sector degree apprenticeships at the UK’s Top 100 universities in the last two years, despite government funding cuts earlier this year leaving thousands of employers facing an estimated £214 million* increase in training costs. The research by the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC), the higher and degree apprenticeship voice for over 80 universities, comes just months after levy funding was withdrawn for most Level 7 apprentices aged over 21, leaving building firms and architecture employers with a financial and skills shortage headache. In a further boost to firms, 69% of the UK’s Top 100* universities will continue to offer Level 7 apprenticeships in September despite the funding shortfall. In the building and architecture sectors, 63% of the degree apprenticeships available at leading universities this autumn will be available at Level 6, whilst 37% can be completed at Level 7. There has been a 6% increase in top universities providing degree apprenticeships in the last two years, reflecting sustained employer and apprentice demand for both Level 6 and 7. Degree apprenticeship provision overall across sectors*** ranging from construction to law has also increased by 73% over the same period. Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive of UVAC, said: “Although these findings provide no comfort to construction or architecture apprentices aged 22 and older or employers who were greatly impacted by the Level 7 government funding cuts earlier this year, it’s clear from our research that the UK’s top universities continue to back degree apprenticeships in large numbers. “What’s particularly encouraging is that universities aren’t simply maintaining provision, they’re evolving it. Degree apprenticeship growth in sector areas such as construction and architecture demonstrates their commitment to helping tackle where the UK’s biggest workforce challenges exist, and where higher-level skills can have the greatest economic impact. In addition to the construction and architecture sectors, marketing has seen a 150% growth in degree apprenticeship programmes provided by the UK’s top universities since 2024, followed by law (+67%) and finance and accounting (+57%). The following list identifies which sectors have seen the most growth in degree apprenticeships over the last two years: Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee added: “Demand for construction and architecture-led degree apprenticeships amongst young people has never been higher. Our focus is now on helping universities ensure their provision across more regions, sectors and apprentices from underserved communities so that social mobility is not compromised. “Degree apprenticeships remain the cornerstone to a successful economy and our latest findings are certainly a significant step in the right direction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

50 apprentices are beginning careers at Costain across its infrastructure projects Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, is welcoming a record number of apprentices in 2026 to support its delivery of critical national infrastructure across the UK. Costain is onboarding 50 apprentices this year, doubling last year’s intake in response to growth in its volume of long-term infrastructure projects and commitment to building a growing pipeline of talent, offering them rewarding and fulfilling long-term careers. The hiring activity is taking place across all of Costain’s infrastructure sectors, which include road, rail, integrated transport, energy, water, and defence and nuclear energy, and in a variety of disciplines, such as civil engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, quantity surveying, finance and project management. Costain offers all levels of apprenticeship in the UK, including degree-level, and each apprentice will ‘earn and learn’, completing a programme of training which lasts from 12–60 months, depending on the level of study. Costain also recruits for graduates, internships and university placements across its sectors and has a Graduates and Apprentices (GRaAPS) network to support professional development. Costain’s apprentices will join some of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects. These include delivering the London tunnels section of HS2 as part of the Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture, strategic water infrastructure through long-term AMP8 frameworks with Southern Water and United Utilities, and critical utilities infrastructure upgrades for Sellafield. More details on Costain’s planned early careers and apprenticeship intake for 2027 and how to apply will be released in November. Catherine Duffy, Chief People and Sustainability Officer at Costain, said: “I’m extremely proud to be welcoming a record number of apprentices into Costain. The industry requires more skilled workers than ever to deliver critical infrastructure for a more prosperous, resilient and decarbonised UK, which makes it a hugely exciting time to enter the sector. “Our apprentice programme underscores our commitment to offering vocational routes into employment. It is designed to help apprentices earn while they learn and gain qualifications with real-world experience to help them build a meaningful, long-term career.” Ella Williams, Apprentice Project Controls Engineer and member of the GRaAPS network at Costain, said: “It’s hugely exciting to be part of a growing group of like-minded, ambitious early careers professionals. Throughout my apprenticeship at Costain I have been fortunate enough to work on complex infrastructure projects which have given opportunities to learn, develop and apply myself in a collaborative, stimulating environment.” Apprentice intake at Sellafield to support skills development and regional prosperity Costain’s apprentices hired to work at Sellafield’s west Cumbria site will gain experience in complex infrastructure works through roles in engineering, project controls and health and safety. They will support the delivery of services through the Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP), where Costain is providing critical utilities upgrades under a minimum nine-year contract worth up to £1bn. The hiring activity by Costain has been informed by detailed analysis of where skills gaps have historically existed in the region and supports Sellafield’s commitment to create a thriving and sustainable local community. This involves developing a skilled labour pool, which local businesses can also access, providing opportunities for early careers professionals and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds across Cumbria. The activity also means that Costain is exceeding a commitment for apprentices to comprise 10% of its workforce for IDP. Claire Gallery-Strong, Project Director at Costain, said: “Together with Sellafield and our IDP partners, we’re committed to offering high-skilled learning and development opportunities for young people in Cumbria and the wider region, supporting a more prosperous, thriving local community and growing the pool of home-grown talent. We’re welcoming a fantastic group who will be delivering against the identified skills gaps and be provided with a range of experiences and guidance from senior colleagues to set them up for success.” Darcy Williamson, Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Apprentice at Costain who has recently joined the IDP programme, said: “Joining Costain as an apprentice has already been a hugely positive experience. I’ve been made to feel incredibly welcome and as I build my career in SHE, I’m excited to learn from my team, develop my skillset and make the most of the opportunities across Costain and IDP.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

HS2 is launching a new fast-track training programme to help unemployed West Midlands residents secure a construction apprenticeship on Britain’s new railway. The programme is being led by HS2’s West Midlands construction partners, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) – who are delivering the 90km section of the railway between Warwickshire, Birmingham and Staffordshire, and Mace Dragados – who are building Curzon Street Station. The new initiative builds on the success of BBV’s well established routes into employment programmes. In the West Midlands, 2,273 unemployed local residents have already secured a job on HS2 and 885 have started an apprenticeship. Now, for the first time, the two joint ventures are teaming up to deliver a new six-week general operatives training programme, which will equip participants with the skills and health and safety accreditation they need to start working in construction. Candidates who successfully complete the six-week course, and want to progress their career in construction, will automatically qualify for an interview for an 18-month apprenticeship. Julie Venn Morton, HS2 Ltd’s Senior Skills and Inclusion Manager for the region said: “We work exceptionally hard to ensure that local residents benefit from career opportunities on HS2, and it’s great to see our construction partners working together to create more new entry-level jobs for local people. “A project the size and scale of HS2 offers a unique opportunity to upskill the next generation and we’re proud of our achievements to date, with over 2,000 people starting an apprenticeship and over 5,700 unemployed people starting new careers on the programme.” The six-week general operatives training programme will be delivered at South and City College’s Bordesley Green campus and starts on 28 September.  Eight successful candidates will go on to secure an 18-month Level 2 apprenticeship, where they will join the teams delivering the city’s new flagship terminus station. Beatriz Ramos Albert, Communications, Skills & Social Value Lead at Mace Dragados said: “Collaboration is essential to maximising the social value we create through HS2, and this programme is a great example of what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared ambition. We are delighted to be partnering with Balfour Beatty VINCI and are grateful for the expertise and best practice they are bringing to this programme. “As construction of Curzon Street Station progresses, we continue to create opportunities across our city centre project and supply chain, and initiatives like this help to ensure those opportunities are accessible to local residents”. Four candidates will progress onto a Level 2 apprenticeship with BBV, where they will join the teams constructing the railway as it travels through Solihull and Warwickshire. Kam Hundal, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Skills, Employment and Education Business Partner said: “We’re creating more new apprenticeship opportunities for local people who are currently out of work, as part of our on-going commitment to leave a lasting skills legacy in the West Midlands. “Candidates who successfully complete a six-week training programme are guaranteed an interview for these entry-level roles. Along the way, we’ll equip them with the skills and health and safety accreditation they need to start working in construction.” West Midlands residents who are interested in joining the programme should register their interest with their local Jobcentre Plus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The director of a building firm in Devon that has put five apprentices through their training — every one of them still with the business — is urging teenagers to consider a career in construction. Dale Chadwick, of Dale Chadwick Carpentry & Construction Ltd, has had three apprentices qualify through the company, all achieving distinctions in some or all of their assessments. Two more are now entering their second year. Between them they have represented the firm at regional competitions and area meetings, and one has met the Prime Minister. Dale Chadwick, who runs the family firm in Devon and sits on the Federation of Master Builders’ South West Area Board, said: “For us, apprentices aren’t cheap labour — our work doesn’t allow for that. We need skill. We pay a fair living wage rather than the minimum, and we provide uniform, tools and travel to support them. In return, we’ve kept hold of every apprentice we’ve taken on. “There’s no better way to learn than hands on — working with the materials, adapting to what happens on site, spotting problems as they come up. But there’s a huge skills gap to fill. The multi-generational building families don’t really exist anymore, and the school system is set up so that university is the target everyone’s told to aim for.” His firm is one of thousands across the region taking on young people at a time when demand for skilled trades has rarely been higher. New research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) shows the South West is the best-informed part of the UK when it comes to building careers. Polling of over 2,000 UK adults found 90% of people in the region have heard of apprenticeships as a route into construction — the joint-highest figure of any UK region or nation. Awareness of BTECs is also joint-highest in the country at 65%, and just 4% of South West adults could not name a single route into the industry. Iain Kirtley, South Director at the Federation of Master Builders, said:  “Congratulations to everyone celebrating their recent results. Dale’s firm in Devon is exactly what our industry looks like at its best — a small local business investing properly in young people and keeping hold of every one of them. “Our research shows the South West is the best-informed region in Britain on building careers, and that’s something to be proud of. But it raises the stakes. If young people here already know the routes into our industry, the question is no longer whether they’ve heard of an apprenticeship — it’s whether there’s one waiting for them when they go looking. “With ambitious housebuilding targets and real uncertainty about what AI means for other careers, a trade is one of the most secure things a young person can go into. We have the appetite here in the South West. We now need the places to match it.” Luke Moss, Skills and Employer Project Manager at South West Construction Technical Excellence College, Exeter College, concluded:  “As students receive their GCSE results, many will be considering what comes next. For those interested in construction, apprenticeships combined with vocational qualifications offer a practical and highly respected route into the industry. These pathways equip learners with the technical skills and hands-on experience employers are looking for, while creating clear opportunities for long-term career development. Construction offers a wide range of roles and excellent prospects for ambitious young people ready to build their future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Top 10 UK housebuilder, Keepmoat, is helping to address the construction industry’s skills shortage by investing in the next generation of talent through a programme of careers events and practical skills workshops across the North East. Throughout the academic year, Keepmoat’s North East social value team, based in Newcastle, has worked with local schools, colleges, apprentices and prospective employees, engaging more than 900 young people across the region and providing opportunities to gain practical insight into careers in construction. A key part of the programme has been delivered through Keepmoat’s National House Building Council (NHBC) Training Hub at New Tyne West Development Company’sThe Rise development in Scotswood.  The facility provides a dedicated space for apprenticeships, construction careers days, recruitment events and practical training, giving participants the opportunity to see how the skills they are developing translate into real-world construction projects. A new cohort of bricklaying apprentices recently began their careers with an intensive block of training at the hub, covering the fundamentals of bricklaying, health and safety and the process of obtaining Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards. The training hub has also welcomed groundwork apprentices from Wearmouth Construction and Applebridge, who visited The Rise development to enhance their knowledge and understanding of their vocation. Geoff Scott, Social Value Manager at Keepmoat North East, explains: “At Keepmoat, we’re proud to support the next generation of  young talent across the North East in preparing for long-term career opportunities they’re passionate about. We also understand the construction industry faces a skills shortage, which is why it’s so important that we empower students early and help them understand the breadth of opportunities available. “By collaborating with local schools and colleges, we are able to help students prepare for the world of work. These partnerships allow Keepmoat to offer tailored opportunities where students can visit live sites and gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting.” Keepmoat has also worked alongside NHBC to connect prospective apprentices and members of the local community with employers.  At a recent recruitment day, members of the public, prospective apprentices and supply chain employers visited the hub to learn more about opportunities in construction and see current Keepmoat apprentices put their developing bricklaying skills into practice. Darryl Stewart, Head of Commercial Services at NHBC added: “We’re committed to helping the home-building industry bridge the skills gap and believe strongly in working in partnership with developers to deliver training.  “The UK faces a housing crisis and it’s essential we build more quality homes at pace – that’s why we’re investing £100 million to train up to 3,000 new apprentices every year and are creating 12 new multi skill training hubs across the UK.  “The NHBC Training Hub at The Rise development in Scotswood is an effective, collaborative partnership with Keepmoat designed to immerse apprentices in a realistic working environment. This initiative is equipping the next generation of skilled site workers with hands-on experience to meet the growing demand in the home-building industry.” New Tyne West Development Company (NTWDC) is the regeneration partnership – comprising Newcastle City Council and Keepmoat – behind The Rise development, in Scotswood. The partnership has plans to build 1,800 mixed-tenure homes in the west end of the city and has, to date, delivered over 750 new homes. Works on the latest phase of housing started last year.  Keepmoat is a top 10 UK partnership homebuilder with a track-record of delivering quality new homes across the UK. To date, almost 70 percent of its current developments are on brownfield sites. To find out more please visit: www.keepmoat.com/  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

As students receive their GCSE results today, many will be deciding whether to continue studying or to begin their careers via an apprenticeship. Nicola Hodkinson, owner and director at Seddon, warns that the shortage of apprenticeship places risks excluding young people who are ready to begin careers in construction. All comments below are authored by Nicola Hodkinson – Owner and director of Seddon “For young people receiving their GCSE results today, this should be a moment of opportunity. But those hoping to begin their careers through an apprenticeship may quickly discover that the route we encourage them to pursue is extremely difficult to access. “At Seddon, we receive thousands of applications for our apprenticeship scheme each year, around 100 for every role. These are young people who want to work, develop practical skills and build long-term careers. Yet there are simply not enough places available to give them that chance. Demand is far outstripping supply “The wider picture is just as concerning. Data reported by the BBC shows that applications for degree apprenticeships through the government’s central platform have risen from 8,100 to 21,800 in three years, while the number of available positions has fallen from 7,300 to 3,700. Although those figures relate specifically to degree apprenticeships, they expose the same gap between young people’s ambitions and the opportunities available to them. “The latest government figures show apprenticeship starts increasing by 8.7% overall, but starts among under-19s fell by 5.4%. Construction apprenticeship starts rose by 5%, which is encouraging, but progress needs to happen much faster if apprenticeships are to become a realistic option for more school leavers. Desperate need for construction skills “This is particularly frustrating because construction desperately needs them. CITB estimates that the industry will require an average of 41,200 additional workers every year between 2026 and 2030. Construction cannot keep complaining about its skills shortage while young people who want to join the industry are being turned away. “Employers have to accept their share of the responsibility. Too much of the industry still relies on a flexible or self-employed workforce and expects somebody else to train the next generation. That may meet an immediate labour need, but it leaves young people without routes into the sector and weakens the workforce we will all depend on in future. Practical steps for creating more places – industry and government responsibility “There are genuine barriers for employers. Training an apprentice is a long-term commitment that involves wages, equipment, structured learning and experienced people dedicating time to passing on their skills. Yet there is very little funding available to employers to offset these wider costs, and what support does exist can be difficult to access, with layers of red tape that many businesses simply do not have the resources to navigate. “The government is beginning to recognise this. The introduction of a £2,000 hiring payment for smaller employers taking on young apprentices is a welcome step, as is the decision to give jobs, skills and apprenticeships greater weight in major public contracts. These changes now need to translate into more opportunities on the ground, with their impact closely monitored and further support introduced if apprenticeship numbers do not keep pace with demand. “This cannot be solved through education policy alone. Giving technical education the same status as academic routes is the right ambition, but that promise will ring hollow if young people reach the end of school and find there is nowhere for them to go. “Results day should open doors. Government, clients and employers now need to make sure construction creates enough of them.” About Nicola: Nicola Hodkinson is owner and director of Seddon and a longstanding advocate for apprenticeships and direct employment in construction. Seddon maintains a significant apprenticeship programme and regularly receives thousands of applications from young people looking to enter the industry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals