Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient (a) skilled workers and (b) apprenticeships are available in the construction industry.

Skills policy is a devolved area so the Devolved Administrations have complete flexibility over how to support businesses to ensure there are sufficient skilled workers. In England, apprenticeship reforms are empowering employers to design high quality apprenticeships to meet their skills needs. Employers in the sector are involved in developing new apprenticeships standards in over 20 construction-related occupations e.g. site management, construction technician, master builder bricklaying, steelfixing, on-site assembly and wood trades.

Working with the Construction Leadership Council, the construction industry is developing a single entry point and a single image campaign to construction careers to enthuse young people about the opportunities the sector offers.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), a UK-wide body, returns over £130million a year to the construction sector to support apprenticeships and upskilling of the workforce across England and the devolved administrations - over £47million of that figure was spent in 2014 supporting 18,500 construction apprentices. The CITB also has strategic relationships in place with the Department for Work and Pensions and with services resettlement to encourage individuals to join the sector.

The Apprenticeship Levy will link larger employers directly to its skills investment and promote the value, and drive the uptake, of apprenticeships. We are introducing the Immigration Skills Charge to encourage employers to invest in up-skilling our resident workforce and reduce reliance on migrant labour.