The British government announced on Saturday a £600 million investment aimed at addressing severe construction skills shortages that threaten its ambitious plan to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029 and drive economic growth.
Finance Minister Rachel Reeves emphasized that housebuilding and the enhancement of critical infrastructure form key components of the Labour government's growth strategy. "We are determined to get Britain building again," Reeves said in an emailed statement from the Treasury, highlighting that the initiative will address long-standing issues, including an outdated planning system and the dearth of skilled construction workers.
The push for more robust training comes as the industry grapples with a growing vacancy crisis. Official figures revealed that there were 38,000 unfilled construction roles in the three months leading up to February—a situation exacerbated by the fallout from the 2016 Brexit vote and the subsequent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the Construction Products Association has warned that the sector is set to lose around 500,000 employees, or 25% of its workforce, to retirement over the next 10 to 15 years.
To tackle these challenges, the government plans to allocate £165 million to expand construction courses at colleges and £100 million to upskill new, existing, and returning workers. Additionally, the Construction Industry Training Board will contribute £32 million to fund over 40,000 industry placements annually over the next four years. Collectively, these measures are expected to train up to 60,000 bricklayers, electricians, engineers, and carpenters by 2029.
Reeves also hinted at forthcoming fiscal measures to align with the government's fiscal rules, with a spring statement expected next Wednesday that will include new economic and public finance forecasts from Britain's fiscal watchdog.
As the UK endeavors to overcome its construction skills crunch, the government’s targeted investment reflects a broader strategy to stimulate growth and ensure the country meets its critical infrastructure and housing targets.
U.S. citizens in Iran have been advised to leave the country as soon as possible, amid growing instability in the region and concerns that travel rout...
Russia has said it is ready to act as a mediator between Iran and the United States as tensions escalate over protests in Iran and warnings of possibl...
The foreign ministers of Iran and India have held high-level talks by telephone, discussing bilateral ties as well as a range of regional and internat...
U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned whether Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late shah of Iran, would be able to command enough support inside Iran...
Iran reopened its airspace late on Wednesday after a near five-hour closure that disrupted airline traffic, amid heightened concerns over possible mil...
The U.S. and UK are reducing personnel at Qatar’s Al-Udeid air base as President Donald Trump weighs possible action against Iran over its violent crackdown on protesters.
The British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, with services now operating remotely, the government announced Wednesday.
The United Kingdom and the United States are withdrawing military personnel from bases in the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise, following Tehran’s warning to regional allies that it would target U.S. bases if Washington takes military action.
The BBC will file a motion to dismiss President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit which is based on the editing of a speech appearing to encourage storming the U.S. Capitol on 6 January.
The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any military action against Tehran, according to two sources close to the kingdom’s government cited by AFP.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
Israel and Arab States have urged the U.S. to delay any potential military action against Iran, warning that such a move could undermine ongoing protests inside the country, according to NBC News.
Boeing booked more aircraft orders than Airbus in 2025 for the first time since 2018, official figures showed, even as the European manufacturer delivered more planes during the year.
China recorded the world’s largest-ever trade surplus in 2025, reaching $1.2 trillion as exporters shifted focus away from the U.S. amid ongoing trade tensions.
A coalition of women’s rights organisations, technology watchdogs and progressive campaigners is urging Apple and Google, owned by Alphabet, to remove the social media platform X and its associated chatbot, Grok, from their app stores.
Boeing booked more aircraft orders than Airbus in 2025 for the first time since 2018, official figures showed, even as the European manufacturer delivered more planes during the year.
U.S. oil major Chevron and private equity firm Quantum Capital Group are reportedly preparing a joint bid to acquire Lukoil’s international assets, as the sanctioned Russian energy company seeks to divest its overseas operations.
The U.S. dollar's share of global reserves fell to nearly 40% at the end of 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which says it's 10% lower than at the start of 2024. However, gold has risen and overtaken the dollar to be above 50% in global reserves according to the IMF data.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment