Building the construction workforce

With thousands of people set to benefit from on-the-job training and career opportunities in the construction sector, Unite has welcomed today’s (June 26) inaugural Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB) meeting.

Unite attended and will sit on the new CSMB, also attended by government ministers and CEOs from across the sector. At the meeting an industry commitment to recruit 100,000 more construction workers per year by the end of the Parliament was officially launched.

The agreement will mean Jobcentres working more closely with the construction industry to offer work experience and tailored placements to meet the needs of employers and people looking to start a fulfilling career in the sector.

The agreement was signed earlier this week at the newly-launched Green Plant Academy at the Earl’s Court Skills Centre, by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Department for Work and Pensions.  

More than 40,000 industry placements will be funded through a further £100 million from the government, alongside a £32 million contribution from the CITB. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, co-chaired the first CSMB with Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council, and the government said that the industry commitment will be a step-change for the construction sector, creating good jobs across the country to deliver housing and infrastructure targets.

At the meeting Ministers highlighted major reforms to transform Jobcentres as well as the £625 million investment to tackle skills shortages in the construction sector – expected to create up to 60,000 more jobs for engineers, electricians and joiners by the end of the parliament.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers are the driving force behind the government’s growth agenda and this is a step in the right direction in ensuring we have a construction workforce fit to build much needed infrastructure and housing. Unite will be working tirelessly to ensure these high-skilled jobs are well paid and on safe sites.” 

Jason Poulter, Unite National Officer for Construction, who attended the Mission Board on behalf of Unite, added, “We are proud to represent workers’ voices and the pride they hold in their skills and trades on the construction skills mission board. We welcome the government’s focus on a job-outcomes approach. 

“This is the largest investment in skills for a generation and the CSMB is a clear demonstration of industries commitment to supporting the skilled construction workforce of tomorrow.”

Tim Balcon, CEO, CITB said: “Opportunities in construction are for everybody, whatever their background. By working together, we can widen the talent pool, bring in more diverse voices, and encourage more people to consider a career in construction. 

“Every year, over 100,000 people receive construction training. I want many more of them to forge lasting careers in the sector. This is why the partnership with DWP is so vital, as it helps ensure individuals are not just trained but truly prepared for careers in construction.

“The government’s commitment to addressing the housing shortage, improving the country’s infrastructure, and investing in construction skills mean this is a real boom time for our industry.”

Unites involvements in the CSMB is just another example of how important it is to have the union involved in being the voice of working people in industry. Earlier this year the benefits of partnership working was highlighted at the Battersea Power Station redevelopment.

To find out more about Unites construction sector, go here for the latest Building Worker.

By Keith Hatch