Deputy Prime Minister and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall attend inaugural Construction Skills Mission Board attended by CEOs from across the sector, launching industry commitment to recruit 100,000 more construction workers per year by the end of the Parliament.

Partnership between Jobcentres and the industry to give more people the skills they need to start fulfilling careers.

Marks a significant step in delivering the Plan for Change commitment to build 1.5 million new homes, which is underpinned by £39 billion for affordable and social housing over ten years announced at Spending Review.

Roles ranging from project managers to bricklayers will be made available to jobseekers thanks to the agreement, which will mean Jobcentres working more closely with the construction industry to offer work experience and tailored placements to meet the need of employers and people looking to start a fulfilling career.

The agreement 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, is a major step in the government’s drive to get Britain building and get Britain working as part of its Plan for Change.

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.

This comes alongside a £1 billion employment support package to support more disabled people and those with health conditions back into work. This is a quadrupling of the level of annual spend on supporting sick and disabled people into work, from the £275 million in 2024/25 we inherited, to over £1 billion in 2029/30.

It comes as the Deputy Prime Minister will co-chair the first Construction Skills Mission Board with Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council today, where, alongside Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Industry Sarah Jones, and several CEOs and sector leaders, they will launch an industry commitment to recruit 100,000 more construction workers per year by the end of the Parliament. This will be a step-change for the construction sector, creating good jobs across the country to deliver on government’s housing and infrastructure commitments, including building 1.5 million homes over this Parliament and delivery of the 10-year infrastructure strategy.

Ministers will highlight 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.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) joined fellow members at today’s first meeting of the Construction Skills Mission Board – setting a strategy for recruiting an additional 100,000 workers a year by the end of this Parliament.

Senior leaders from across construction and Government Ministers have launched the construction sector skills mission, to ensure the sector has the workforce it needs to deliver.

The Board was established by the Construction Leadership Council to support the Government’s commitment to invest an additional £625 million in construction skills, to support the delivery of a national infrastructure and construction pipeline of £725m, as well as building 1.5m new homes, and retrofitting an additional five million homes.

The Board is chaired by CLC co-chair Mark Reynolds. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, joined the first meeting alongside other Ministers, representatives of the supply chain and training organisations.

The Board will develop specific initiatives and actions to deliver the mission, while supporting the Government to shape, develop and deliver skills policy. The actions will focus on five key areas to drive increased recruitment. They are:

• Confidence to employ and invest
• Clear new entrant pathways
• Access to provision & support to train
• Funding that works
• Reliable and rewarding careers.

The Board will work with industry bodies to ensure these actions are rolled out across the sector. The CLC is keen to ensure that all parts of the sector can be involved in the Mission, understand the plans and policies being developed to drive investment in skills and play a role in the subsequent work to recruit this new workforce. Any organisation that would like to support the mission can do so through engagement with their relevant trade body.

Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council and Co-Chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board, said: “We have seen real ambition from the Government through its commitment to 1.5 million new homes, clean power by 2030, and a renewal of our public infrastructure; and that ambition has been backed by significant funding commitments around skills. Construction will be essential to delivering growth and investment across the UK; and so it is vital that we now step up as a sector.

“The Construction Skills Mission Board represents a new partnership between industry and government, working together to find industry-led, collaborative solutions to delivering the workforce of the future. I am delighted that we have seen such strong support from Ministers and some of the most important leaders in our sector – and I hope everyone will play their part in the delivery of this essential mission.”

When it was first launched in November 2023, the tool predicted 40,000 extra workers could be needed by 2028, taking into account retirements.

The ECITB’s updated forecast states that this figure remains unchanged, but indicates that peak demand has now shifted to 2030. Factors include delays in some projects that now coincide with other planned activity, along with an upcoming wave of possible retirements in key roles.

The LFT reveals the size of the overall ECI workforce could total more than 135,000 workers in five years’ time to meet demand, an increase of 19% on the current number of workers in industry.

The tool had previously stated there could be a 28% increase in demand for workers by 2028. This percentage decrease suggests industry has been recruiting successfully in the last two years to build the workforce needed for current and future projects.

In 2023, the estimated size of the ECI workforce was just over 101,000, but this has since increased by 13,000 to sit at 114,000 in 2025.

Should labour demand be met each year, the tool highlights that 2026 will be a pivotal year, with nearly 4,400 additional workers potentially needed next year.

Occupations most in demand will include mechanical fitters, electrical technicians, process engineers, project managers, pipefitters, welders and design technicians.

The latest predictions are the most detailed yet from the tool. It was updated using findings from the ECITB 2024 Workforce Census and publicly stated timescales on 3,000 active and future ECI projects.

Standard for small mobile access towers goes to second vote

We’ve been keeping you updated on the progress of a new European standard for low-height mobile working platforms, which covers platforms where the height is limited to a maximum of 2 metres. The standard is being created by CEN (the European Committee for Standardization) Technical Committee 53 Working Group 4, a team of tower experts convened by Don Aers, PASMA’s technical director.

At the time of our last update, back in April 2024, the group was making its way through feedback in preparation for a second ballot. That’s now complete (we told you it might be a lengthy process!) and the standard will shortly be sent out for the new vote, which runs from 17 April – 10 July. Each of the committee members (including the UK) will vote either in favour or against the standard.

As this is the second attempt to reach a consensus, the standard will likely be abandoned if the vote is negative. If it’s positive, it could be published later this year. Oh, and it also now has an official name – EN 17964. We’ll bring you another update after the vote.

Coinciding with National Cancer Survivors’ Day on 1 June, IPAF has launched an industry-wide fundraising initiative with Weston Park Cancer Charity to raise funds for vital cancer research.

The PAINT scheme, which stands for ‘Powered Access Industry Trust’, invites IPAF members and stakeholders to nominate a piece of equipment in their fleet as their dedicated ‘PAINT machine’. Each time this machine is hired out, a proportion of the revenue can be donated to support cancer research. Alternatively, companies can choose to donate a percentage of their overall profits or from a specific revenue stream, such as training income. Participating organisations will be recognised and celebrated at an annual industry awards ceremony.

Money raised through PAINT and donated to Weston Park Cancer Charity will help to fund the sector-leading research that takes place at their Cancer Clinical Trials Centre (CCTC).

Martin Wraith, IPAF Rental+ Scheme Manager, said:

“Every single IPAF member will be affected by cancer at some point in their lifetime – whether personally or through a loved one’s diagnosis. Launching the PAINT initiative is incredibly close to my heart. It’s a call to action for our industry: by uniting the powered access community, we can help fund the fight against cancer and contribute to life-changing treatments that will have a global impact.

“Whether you’re a manufacturer, distributor, rental company or training centre, every contribution matters. Your support can directly impact Weston Park Cancer Charity’s clinical trials, which are expanding treatment options and improving survival outcomes for cancer patients around the world.”

 

About National Water Hygiene

The National Water Hygiene (‘Blue Card’) scheme plays a vital part in ensuring the protection of public health and promoting good water hygiene practices. The scheme has been developed in collaboration with all UK water companies.

All UK water companies require individuals entering clean water sites or working on the clean water network – known as ‘Restricted Operations’, to hold a National Water Hygiene EUSR registration.

‘Restricted Operations’ includes working on service reservoirs, water pumping stations, water treatment works, wells, springs, boreholes as well as working on the network of water mains and service pipes.

It’s not just water company employees.  If you are working on a ‘Restricted Operation’ on behalf of a water company subcontractor or other organisation, such as Self-Lay Organisation (SLOs) – then you need a National Water Hygiene EUSR registration.

Once you have successfully completed your National Water Hygiene training and assessment, you will understand the vital part you play in maintaining clean and safe drinking water and protecting public health.  You will be issued with an National Water Hygiene EUSR photo ID card – which because of its blue colour, it’s also known as the ‘Blue Card’.

Please contact us to book.

The CITB Employer Network is a CITB funding initiative designed to make training and funding more accessible for construction employers. Through this scheme, CITB-registered employers can claim up to £25,000 in training funding each year, helping them to upskill their workforce without the hassle of complex applications.

70% Funded Training!

One of the biggest advantages of the CITB Employer Network is that CITB will fund 70% of your training costs. You only need to cover the remaining 30% directly to us as the training provider.

No Forward Planning Required

Unlike other funding routes such as the Skills & Training Fund, the Employer Network doesn’t require you to plan training up to a year in advance. You can book training when you need it, offering flexibility for businesses that require ad-hoc or last-minute courses.

How can I take advantage of Employer Networks?

Providing your business is CITB registered and up to date with levy payments, you are eligible to receive this funding.

Who is my local CITB Advisor?

MECsafe Limited will put you in touch with the correct CITB Advisor who will organise the training with us.

MECsafe Courses Covered by this training: –

Site Manager Safety Training Scheme (5 day)

SMSTS Refresher (2 day)

Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (2 day)

SSSTS Refresher (1 day)

Health & Safety Awareness (1 day)

IPAF 3a & 3b

PASMA (Mobile Towers)

 

Please contact us for more details: –

01302 775900 or info@mecsafe.co.uk