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Experienced construction workers have knowledge that can’t be found in books. And by becoming teachers, a key aim of the Construction Leadership Council’s new skills plan, older workers can equip new entrants with skills that help their career. Take Charlie Thorp, 66, a Construction Lecturer, Assessor and Mentor to bricklaying apprentices and Property Maintenance Operatives at South Essex College.

CITB demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity and diversity with a series of events to attract more women into construction.

Is considering a career in the construction industry as an LGBTQ+ individual a daunting prospect? Worries about acceptance and inclusivity can be discouraging. However, times have changed, and it is important to talk about how the construction industry is constantly evolving and becoming more diverse.

Solution-seeking Andrew Manson has been named Plant Mechanic Apprentice of the Year.

As a family-run company with 45 years of successful trading under its belt, Hawkins Group is in a position to give something back. This year, thanks to financial support from the CITB, the company has been able to employ and develop six apprenticeships to help tackle the skills gap within the construction industry.

This year, CITB has paid out over £5m more in grants and supported nearly 700 more employers compared to the same period in 2021. As we draw closer to the end of 2022, CITB data reveals that almost 12,500 businesses have been supported in the form of grants, with £54.6m paid out to date (Apr – Nov 2022), and more than half paid to small or micro businesses.

Sian Walkey, like many in construction, didn’t take her apprenticeship straight from school. The mum-of-two had already studied, built up a successful career and started a family – but she wanted to go further. She wanted to upskill and unleash her potential.

"Learning a new skill every day was one of the best feelings.” Those words are from trainee joiner Daniel Skelly. They are a very good example of how training for a new career can be enjoyable – and transform a life.

The winners of the SkillBuild National Finals 2022 have been announced, after nearly 80 construction trainees went head-to-head over three days. SkillBuild, often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics’, is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in partnership with WorldSkills UK and offers a chance for trainees to compete in a bid to be crowned winner of their chosen trade.

One organisation can’t solve all construction’s skills challenges. To attract new workers, stakeholders need to partner for skills and take an aligned approach to training. That’s the best way of supporting people into well paid construction jobs. I’m pleased to say that a new, co-ordinated approach to skills is in the pipeline: Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).