The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has welcomed the announcement of a £725m Government package for skills reforms, which will see 50,000 additional apprenticeship opportunities provided over the next three years.
The cash is intended to completely cover training costs for eligible under-twenty-five-year-olds in small and medium sized businesses, as well as expand foundation apprenticeships.
The money will also help introduce new short courses for fields deemed a priority, such as engineering, AI and digital skills.
Included in this new funding package is £140m earmarked for a pilot where mayors will be able to connect young people – in particular those not in education, employment or training (NEET) – with local apprenticeship opportunities.
CECA director of policy and public affairs, Ben Goodwin, said: ‘Construction and infrastructure offer high-quality, well-paid careers in every part of the country, but we can only deliver the Government's ambitions on growth if we bring many more young people into our industry every year.
‘We particularly welcome full funding for apprenticeships for young people in SMEs, the expansion of foundation apprenticeships, and more flexible technical training in areas such as engineering and digital.
‘Taken together with recent investments in Technical Excellence Colleges, Skills Bootcamps and the new Construction Skills Mission Board, this package can help close the skills gap – provided it is delivered at pace and in partnership with industry.
‘Our members - a majority of whom are SMEs - stand ready to work with DWP, Skills England, local government, and training providers, to ensure these reforms translate into real opportunities on site - particularly in those communities that need them most.'
