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As part of the new Spring budget for 2025, the government has announced plans to invest £600 million in training 60,000 new construction workers by 2029. This initiative is part of Labour’s plan to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years. Without a decisive intervention to stop the increasing skills decline in Britain, their ambitious construction plans will not be possible. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the planned investment in apprenticeship schemes and what it could mean for your business.
Planned Investment in Construction Apprenticeships
Labour’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes will not be possible without the ‘engineers, sparkies, and chippies to actually get the job done’, says Rachel Reeves. However, according to the latest figures from the office of National Statistics, there over 35,000 construction job vacancies due to a lack of necessary skills and applicants – this is the highest of any sector. Therefore, training a new generation of construction workers, and supporting those looking to up-skill in the industry, is crucial to continued growth in Britain.
It has been announced that there will be £100 million of new investment to fund 10 new Technical Excellent Colleges, and a further £165 million to support existing colleges to deliver more construction courses. In addition to this, new foundation apprenticeships will be launched in August 2025, backed by £40 million funding.
What These Changes Could Mean for Your Business…
As the Government commits to funding educational opportunities for new people, the skills of our existing construction sector become more important than ever. Passing on knowledge, skills and experience to young people entering the industry is crucial to bridging the skills-gap and reducing unemployment across the sector.
That’s why, alongside new investment into foundation apprenticeships, the government has committed to providing employers £2,000 for every foundation apprentice they take on, on top of fully funding the training costs through the new Growth and Skills levy. A further £136 million will be invested to fund 40,000 industry placements each year to help get students ‘site-ready’ and improve the rate of students who take on full-time work in the construction sector after their studies.
These new initiatives will help to ease the financial impact of taking on an apprentice for small construction firms. The additional funding into college training to help make students ‘site-ready’ should also improve the working relationships between apprentices and their new employers. By taking on an apprentice, construction firms have the opportunity to introduce a student to their branch of work and train them in the skills necessary for their projects and builds. Many apprentices stay on long after they’ve finished their qualification, creating strong teams who have trained and learned together.
A Building Products Partner You Can Rely On
In this landscape of change and growth, we know how important it is for you to be booking in jobs and getting them completed without unnecessary delays. This is especially true if you’re training new staff! That’s why here at Edge we are committed to being a building supplies partner you can rely on.
We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service every single day. Whether you phone, email, send us a message on WhatsApp, or visit one of our three trade counters, we are ready to help you get the products you need. Plus, we offer next day delivery direct to your site, saving you time and fuel.
Our team of Sales Reps – Ross, Paul and Curtis – travel across Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, and Surrey visiting customer’s sites, placing new orders, listening to feedback, and making sure our customers are getting the best possible pricing for each of their projects. Whether it’s a series of small home renovations, or a large-scale build, we are ready to be your supplier no matter the scale of project.
So, while you are busy getting new apprentices trained, passing on your crucial skills to the next generation of builders, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, we will maintain high stocks across all our PVC building materials. From fascias and soffits, to guttering and window trims, and even larger items such as cladding and decking, we keep our warehouses stocked to make sure you have the supplies you need, when you need them.
Plus, we run a monthly competition for Installation of the Month, giving you the chance to show-off your latest projects, and win a £25 Amazon gift card! Each month we share the winners work on our customer newsletter, our blog, and on our social media, giving you lots of opportunities to share the win and perhaps even secure new work. That fantastic cladding renovation, or new set of windows you have installed could inspire a new customer to get in touch, so why not tag us in your next project to be in with a chance of winning!
Get in touch with us
To find out more about the products we offer, our trade pricing, or to place your next order, call 0345 021 3333 or email [email protected].
Sources:
GOV.UK, Government unleashes next generation of construction workers to build 1.5m homes. 23 March 2025, <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unleashes-next-generation-of-construction-workers-to-build-15m-homes>