UK plans £600 million to train more skilled construction workers

London: The UK government intends to invest £600 million (S$1 billion) in the construction sector over the next four years as it moves ahead with plans to boost infrastructure.

The funds are targeted at training up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers to address labour shortages and help build 1.5 million homes, according to a statement on Saturday (Mar 22). The announcement comes before Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is set to reveal billions of pounds of spending cuts in her Spring statement on Wednesday.

The injection, part of the UK government’s so-called skills agenda, is proposed at a time when the country’s finances are being heavily scrutinised as the chancellor pursues economic growth. The Labour government has pledged to invest in infrastructure as it seeks to boost the workforce without relying on immigration – while also stimulating the economy.

The construction sector is facing significant shortages, with figures from the Office for National Statistics showing more than 35,000 job vacancies. At the same time, employers report that over half of vacancies cannot be filled due to a lack of people with the required skills at a time when demand is expected to increase further.

Saturday’s announcement includes £100 million to fund 10 Technical Excellence Colleges and £165 million of fresh funding to help colleges deliver more construction courses, according to the statement. The government is also planning new foundation apprenticeships from August as part of the programme.