Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support apprenticeships in the housing sector.

This Government has a mission to deliver 1.5 million homes in England over the course of this parliament. Tackling skills shortages in the construction sector is critical to driving growth and delivering the Plan for Change.

Construction is one of the key sectors benefitting from new foundation apprenticeships with three standards including onsite trades launched in August 2025. Employers will receive £2,000 for every foundation apprentice they take on and retain in the construction industry.

Smaller businesses, including in the housing sector, will also be able to benefit from the introduction of a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 for non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, that hire apprentices aged 16-24 as new employees. Additionally, from August 2026, apprenticeship training will be completely free for non-levy paying employers who hire eligible young people aged 16-24.