Andy Burnham urged to prioritise construction skills shortages to plug huge gap needed for housing target

Andy Burnham urged to prioritise construction skills shortages to plug huge gap needed for housing target EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham has been urged to prioritise skill shortage areas as part of his technical education revolution to help deal with the housing crisis Andy Burnham has been urged to prioritise skill shortage areas as part of his technical education revolution to help deal with the housing crisis. The PM last month announced that Year 10 pupils will be able to combine core academic subjects, like English and Maths, with technical education linked to jobs available in their area. The plans are hoped to help address the "Neets" crisis - young people who are not in employment, education or training - of which there are more than one million in the UK . Housing and construction experts have called for trades like brickwork, carpentry, plumbing and roofing to be included on the curriculum. Up to 755,000 additional construction workers could be needed by 2030 to deliver government ambitions on 1.5 million homes, a National Audit Office report found last month. Steve Mulholland, chief executive of the Construction Plant-hire Association, told The Mirror: “Skill shortages are a major concern for construction companies across the UK. Young people need the technical skills and industry understanding to enter the workplace, kickstart their careers, and help build the homes and infrastructure our country needs. "So the Prime Minister's commitment to elevating technical education to the same level as academic study is very welcome indeed. We now need a clear outline of what technical lessons young people will be able to access." He added: "Time-honoured trades like carpentry, plumbing, roofing, and brickwork, along with engineering, electrical, plant and machine operations are key skills our workforce needs to build the Britain of the future, so they should be part of pupils' technical education.” Steve Turner, Executive Director at the Home Builders Federation, wants to see technical courses delivering effective training to ensure young people are industry-ready when applying for jobs. “The major issues we've had over recent years are that the college courses are not really delivering people of the requisite standard that employers want,” he said. “I think Andy's absolutely spot on in terms of the ambition. But we would just urge them to make sure they're working with industry so they can get that right so that it works.” He said the industry is currently struggling to meet its target of building 300,000 homes a year to reach the 1.5million homes target by the end of the Parliament. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner last week admitted it is a "difficult target" but added: "I’m not going to be defeated.” Mr Turner criticised regulatory and tax burdens on developers that mean housebuilding is currently around 200,000 a year, saying it ultimately has a knock on effect on how many apprentices can be taken on. “If they can give the industry confidence that they're tackling those viability and affordability issues, then the industry will recruit more people, which will bring people more people through the pipeline in the next two, three, or four years." Mr Turner added that an expansion of technical routes should also consider changes to housebuilding requirements, such as environmental specifications, and the need for a new skills pipeline such as fitting heat pumps or solar panels. The National House Building Council (NHBC) has been praised for leading the way on training for youngsters in the sector. In 2024, it announced it was investing £100million in 12 new multi-skill training hubs to help close the skills gap in the industry. Roger Morton, director of business change at the NHBC, pointed to the success of its hubs, including one in Linchfield that has a pupil referral unit. “Some people who don't do well in the school environment come to us every week and absolutely love it,” he told The Mirror. He said he wants more young people to be informed of the career progression in the industry, such as the average bricklaying wage being £50,000. “We believe everyone deserves a quality home, and if we want quality homes to be built, we need quality tradespeople to do it,” he added. The Government’s technical education announcement in July builds on Mr Burnham’s flagship education policy as Greater Manchester mayor. During his tenure the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) was launched in an attempt to put technical education on an equal footing with traditional academic routes. The model focuses on key sectors of the economy, such as construction, engineering, and manufacturing. A government spokesman said: "It's great news that the construction industry is welcoming our reforms, which will give young people the skills, experience and employer connections they need to succeed in future careers. "Alongside our plans to introduce more high-quality vocational options from aged 14, we're introducing new V Levels from next September to sit alongside A Levels and T Levels, which will help give young people a clear and respected route into sectors like construction. "We will continue to work with employers, mayors, schools and colleges as we develop these new pathways from aged 14, ensuring technical education reflects the skills local industries need and putting vocational and technical routes on an equal footing with the traditional academic path."