The UK Government has unveiled a £625 million national “construction skills mission” backed by industry leaders and aimed at addressing critical labour shortages threatening the delivery of its £725 billion infrastructure and housing pipeline.
At the heart of this effort is the launch of the Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB), which convened for the first time yesterday (26 June), bringing together ministers, construction CEOs, unions, and training organisations.
Co-chaired by Mark Reynolds of the Construction Leadership Council, the board is tasked with ensuring the recruitment of 100,000 additional workers annually by 2029, as well as shaping a long-term workforce strategy.
Backed by £625 million in skills investment, and supporting over £725 billion in planned infrastructure, the mission is central to delivering 1.5 million homes, including the £39 billion affordable homes programme, clean power by 2030, and a renewal of public infrastructure.
Trade unions, Unite and GMB, both attended the CSMB, and strongly welcomed the initiative which is expected to create up to 60,000 more jobs for engineers, electricians and joiners.
Jason Poulter, Unite’s national officer for construction, said: “This is the largest investment in skills for a generation and the creation of the CSMB is a clear demonstration of industry’s commitment to supporting the skilled construction workforce of tomorrow.”
An agreement signed earlier this week by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Department for Work and Pensions, will see roles ranging from project managers to bricklayers be made available.
These will come from more than 40,000 industry placements funded through a further £100 million from the government, alongside a £32 million contribution from the CITB, who earlier this year revealed that 251,000 extra construction workers were required by 2028 to meet demand.
A major step in the government’s drive to “get Britain building and get Britain working” as part of its Plan for Change, CITB CEO, Tim Balcon called it a “real boom time” for the industry” as it “widens the talent pool”.
In parallel, experts are urging the sector to tackle a quieter but equally pressing challenge of staff retention, especially in the highways and infrastructure sectors.
High attrition disrupts long-term projects and costs the sector in lost expertise.
According to research by Randstad, workers now prioritise work-life balance and job security, over pay alone and the sector is consistently under pressure from persistent skills shortages, underscoring the need for modern employment strategies.
Skanska UK president and CEO, Katrina Dowding, was at the inaugural CSMB, alongside fellow board members, including the chief executives from Taylor Wimpey, Jennie Daly; and Balfour Beatty; Leo Quinn.
She said: “Delivery of new or improved roads, railways, energy networks and commercial buildings all require a stable workforce. The CSMB has the opportunity to unlock significant potential as well as helping ensure that industry can invest in the right skills to deliver the 10-year infrastructure plan.”
The CSMB’s five key areas, including improved entry routes and funding reform, signal a shift toward longer-term workforce investment, with jobcentres now embedded in sector planning.
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