The West Midlands Combined Authority and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed, committing to building a construction skills academy for the West Midlands.
This agreement is one of the first of its kind in the UK, and aims to tackle the national skills shortage and the estimated 3,810 extra construction workers needed per year in the West Midlands alone.
The first part of a larger ecosystem
The CITB has launched an initiative to create a construction skills ecosystem across England that allows for better-connected education that aligns with national and regional priorities. Achieving this will involve improving employer engagement in training and skills planning and supporting people into construction careers, as well as improving local skills provision and meeting workforce demand.
The construction skills academy may be one of the first, but the intent is to create more in partnership with other mayoral authorities, improving intelligence sharing and aligning investments.
Richard Parker, mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “We’re heading into a construction boom that will power new jobs, new homes and new opportunities right across the West Midlands. And this latest investment in training and apprenticeships will help make sure local people have the skills they need to land those new jobs. It’s by working with the CITB and local employers in this way that we can tackle this industry skills shortage head-on and get our workforce ready to build the infrastructure that will drive future growth.”
Tim Balcon, CEO, CITB, said: “Addressing the construction industry’s skills needs requires industry-wide collaboration, strong partnerships with central and local governments, and long-term commitment.
“This is the latest strategic partnership we’re establishing with mayoralties across the country, strengthening relationships between employers, training providers and local decision-makers, creating a stronger foundation for addressing emerging skills challenges at a local level. The Memorandum of Understanding is an important step towards establishing a National Skills Academy for Construction and ensuring the workforce is ready to meet future demand.”
CITB is tailoring strategies to specific needs
The CITB released its Workforce Mobility and Skills in the UK Construction Sector 2025 report last month, finding that construction workers are becoming less willing to travel longer distances for employment, indicating that local employers may need more specific training and strategies for their local area.
The report reveals that, in the last 12 months, a third (34%) of all construction workers have worked no more than 20 miles away.
Just over a quarter (28%) have worked more than 50 miles away from their permanent or current home, a decrease from 32% in 2022.
Read more about the research’s findings here.
The post Construction skills academy to be built in West Midlands appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
