Despite increased demand for apprenticeship grants, construction employers are being encouraged to improve the recruitment and retention of apprentices
From April 2023 to March 2025, CITB is investing nearly £150m into apprenticeship grants.
CITB’s latest Employer Voice survey reported that 31% of employers are planning to take on an apprentice, with another 48% stating they may take one on.
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According to Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, SME employers have a particularly important role to play in helping to increase the number of apprenticeship starts.
“A strong apprenticeship pipeline is vital for SME employers and a healthy construction industry,” Balcon said. “Over two-thirds of apprenticeship starts in the construction industry are employed by companies of fewer than 50 employees.
“We’re seeing strong demand for our apprenticeship and qualification grants, and we want to keep up the momentum.
“There are over 100 different construction apprenticeship roles that lead to careers in construction, and we encourage employers and people considering joining the industry to consider what apprenticeship role could work for them.”
Increased demand
CITB’s New Entrant Support Team (NEST) was established in January 2023 to help employers better navigate the recruitment process, as well as access grants and suitable training.
NEST helped more than 2,318 people start an apprenticeship in 2023 – more than a 500% increase compared to when the scheme was piloted in the North of England from September to December 2022.
In total, CITB supported more than 29,000 apprentices during their courses in 2023 – a 30% increase over two years.
Since 2020, CITB has issued more than 72,000 apprenticeship grants for individual learners and delivered 5,700 apprenticeship courses at the National Construction College. During the same period, more than 26,000 apprenticeship grants were awarded to construction employers.
Balcon said that as well as continuing to drive up apprenticeship start numbers, the industry also needs to “improve retention and attract apprentices to pursue a career in construction”.
He added: “Currently some 60% of further education learners on construction courses do not end up in the industry – we need to tackle this issue with effective recruitment and training while promoting the benefits of joining the industry.”
'Promising' progress
Commenting on CITB’s investment in apprenticeships, Nicola Hodkinson, owner and director of contractor Seddon, described it as “a promising step forward in closing the skills gap within the construction industry”.
“According to the CITB, 31% of construction employers are considering hiring an apprentice. Another recent survey revealed that nearly half (48%) of employers say they 'may' take on an apprentice. But this 'may' needs to turn into a 'must' if we are to sustain our sector and meet demand,” Hodkinson added.
“This shift comes on the heels of the prime minister’s announcement to launch Skills England back in July. But real change will only happen through true collaboration between government bodies, education providers, and businesses of all sizes. We know we need 251,000 additional skilled construction workers by 2028, and with 31% of employers struggling to find skilled staff, the challenge is clear.
“If the 48% of employers still uncertain about bringing on apprentices committed to hiring just one apprentice, we could transform the industry's skills shortage. The goal is within reach, but we need to do things differently – we need to incentivise apprenticeship employment.”
