Up to £4m announced to train next generation of construction workers in the North East

Tens of thousands of placements will be created for aspiring construction workers in a £96 million boost to train new talent and build more homes.

Funding is set to be allocated across the country on Friday (22^nd) to provide hands-on learning and boost employability for learners who start their construction courses from this September.  This is part of the £625m Construction Skills Package aiming to train up 60,000 skilled workers by 2029.   

The construction industry is facing significant shortages, with the latest Office for National Statistics figures showing that there are over 35,000 job vacancies - over half of which are due to a lack of required skills. 

It comes as the government hits a major milestone in helping to bring vocational education on par with academic. It has published a plan to support schools and colleges to transition from legacy qualifications at the same level, including BTECs, to a clearer system of V Levels, T Levels and A Levels from 2027 as options after GCSEs, along with two new qualifications for lower attaining students to support them to progress beyond GCSEs. 

New subjects have been announced for the second year of delivery in 2028 that will help to address skills shortages and boost key industries such as housebuilding. These subjects include construction design, bricklaying and plumbing. The plan also includes detailed rollout timelines, and advice on content development to help providers transition. 

Together, these plans are central to the Prime Minister’s ambition to ensure two thirds of young people are in a gold standard apprenticeship, higher training or university by the age of 25, boosting priority sectors including housebuilding, and driving economic growth as part of national renewal.  

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:  

“We’re removing the snobbery from hands-on learning and putting it on par with academic to break down barriers for young people to get rewarding jobs. 

“Our landmark vocational qualifications and placements will create a strong pipeline of workers by equipping young people with the real-world skills that employers need and that will fuel the jobs of the future.” 

Iain Nixon, Executive Principal for Regional Skills at Sunderland College (the North East Construction Technical Excellence College), said:

“As the North East Construction Technical Excellence College, we are proud to be playing a significant role in the introduction and shaping of new qualifications.

“The post-16 reforms will give young people more choice in how they build their future careers, expanding opportunities in construction will help young people gain the skills, experience and confidence needed to move into employment or apprenticeships.

"Developing closer links between education and industry will also help employers bring new talent into the workforce, tackle skills shortages, and support the long-term growth of the construction sector in our region.”

Announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, V Levels will sit alongside A-levels and T-levels. Equivalent to one A Level, they will allow students to mix and match academic and vocational subjects if they do not yet know where they want to specialise.  

For 16-year-olds who are not ready to progress beyond GCSEs due to lower attainment, there are two new qualifications: 

·Occupational Certificates: two-year courses for those who want to get into work or an apprenticeship but need support to achieve English and Maths GCSEs. 

·Foundation Certificates: one-year courses for students who want to progress to A-levels, T-levels or V-levels but need extra support to pass their GCSEs. 

New subjects available from 2028 include: 

·V Levels in construction design, engineering design and engineering manufacturing. 

·Two new T Levels in sport and social care - part of the largest expansion for students who want to specialise in sector-facing studies since the qualifications began. 

·Occupation Certificates in bricklaying, painting, plumbing, accounts and finance, and adult care worker. 

·Foundation Certificates in engineering, health, legal services, and social care. 

A new sector-led group, ‘Qualification Practitioners’, has been created to lead the way for the sector, shaping and sharing best practice as providers transition to the new qualifications. Providers will be required to have robust transition plans to support staff, students, and employers through the change. 

In the North East, they are:

o   Education Partnership North East (City of Sunderland College Group) 

o   Education Training Collective  

o   Macmillan Academy (Endeavour Academies Trust)  

New guidance has also been published removing the red tape around T Level industry placements. This includes scrapping the limits on the percentage of remote hours a student can do or how many employers they work with. This helps more young people to access premium placements and empowers businesses to offer placements that work for everyone.   

Chief Executive of Education Partnership North East, Toni Rhodes, said:

“As a college group, we have spent several years strengthening our approach to qualification reform through curriculum planning, with a clear focus on quality and continuous improvement.

“We are therefore proud to be recognised as a qualifications pioneer, providing support through the transition to a reformed landscape.

“The Post-16 Pathways will play an important role in enabling greater flexibility and expanding opportunities for young people.”

Grant Glendinning, Chief Executive and Group Principal of Education Training Collective, said:

“This Post-16 Pathways Implementation Plan is a significant step forward in creating a simpler, high-quality post-16 system with clear pathways for every learner.

“In the North East, colleges and employers are working hand in hand to build the skills our economy needs, and this plan sets out a clear, practical route to get there, helping more young people succeed and progress with confidence.”