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emailed statement from the Treasury, highlighting that the initiative will address long-standing issues, including an outdated planning system and the dearth of skilled construction workers.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.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera...
The Arctic has become a frontline for strategic competition, NATO’s top military commander in Europe said on Sunday, as Russia and China increase th...
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is suffering kidney failure and is undergoing dialysis, Ukrainian intelligence sources say....
More than 1,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv remain without heating after Russian missile attacks crippled the city’s energy system during a sharp co...
Deaths linked to nationwide protests in Iran have risen to more than 500, according to a U.S.-based rights group, as Tehran warned it would retaliate ...
Elon Musk has accused the UK government of being “fascist” after ministers stepped up pressure on his social media platform X over AI-generated sexualised images linked to its Grok chatbot.
Governments in Europe and Asia are stepping up pressure on X and its Grok chatbot after AI-generated sexualised images sparked regulatory action, with Indonesia becoming the first country to block access to the tool.
Leaders from the U.S. and European countries moved closer to finalising legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine following a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in Paris on Sunday.
Countries including Britain, Canada, Germany and others on Wednesday condemned the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying they violated international law and risked fuelling instability.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out ordering a mission to capture Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he is confident the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end.
Bob Weir, the rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78, his family has said.
China, Russia and Iran have begun a week-long joint naval exercise in South African waters, a move that comes amid strained relations between Washington and several members of the expanded BRICS bloc.
Despite facing challenges in chip manufacturing, Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) researchers are optimistic about narrowing the technological gap with the United States, driven by an increasing culture of risk-taking and innovation.
Warning of a strategic threat from Russia and China, Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States must acquire Greenland to prevent the Arctic island from falling under foreign control.
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.
The U.S. dollar has strengthened against major peers on Tuesday, while the euro fell following slower-than-expected inflation in Europe. Market movements were relatively subdued as investors focused on upcoming U.S. economic data.
Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) and a strong rally in Moderna shares, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average approaching a record high.
India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has taken a significant step towards diversifying its crude oil supply by purchasing Colombian crude, from state oil company Ecopetrol, for the first time.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment