A broad coalition of construction organisations has written to the prime minister, warning that proposed apprentice reforms pose a serious threat to competence and safety across the workforce.
The letter refers to plans to “shorten the minimum duration of an apprenticeship to just eight months”, as well as plans to mandate “a new end point assessment (EPA) that favours a shorter, high-level assessment plan over the current final, impartial stage of an apprenticeship”.
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According to the signatories, these changes would “spell disaster” for the construction industry, while also undermining the government’s ambition to drive economic growth.
They claim that the government is pushing ahead without proper engagement with the industry, insisting that employers, award organisations, training providers and trade bodies have been “ignored or pushed aside” by Skills England during the consultation process.
Sampling concerns
One of the biggest concerns raised is the use of ‘sampling’ within a competence-based assessment.
Previously, apprentices needed to demonstrate they could meet all of the knowledge, skills and behaviour criteria.
Under the new proposals each assessment organisation will be asked to select a smaller sample of criteria to assess and use that to infer the apprentices’ overall competence, according to the letter.
The signatories insist that the reforms “threaten the whole skills system, including the issuing of CSCS cards, which are a requirement of the Construction Leadership Council”.
“If the reforms move ahead, CSCS will no longer recognise apprenticeships as they will not be confident individuals who have met the minimum standard to demonstrate competence and safety.
“This removes a clear pathway to a skilled, qualified and competent workforce, and puts more pressure on an industry already suffering a widely acknowledged skills shortage and ageing workforce.”
The letter adds that the changes conflict with legislation set out in the Building Safety Act 2022 and recommendations from Dame Judith Hackitt.
The coalition's demands
The coalition has set out a series of demands for government, including suspending the proposed apprenticeship reforms.
The group has also called for government to actively engage with the construction industry to help improve competence across the workforce.
Helen Hewitt, chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation, who has led the coalition’s response to the government’s proposals, said: “The government’s proposed apprenticeship reforms risk dismantling the foundations of competence and safety in our industry.
“By shortening the duration of apprenticeships and replacing rigorous, impartial assessments with lighter-touch alternatives, these changes threaten to dilute skills, undermine confidence and create dangerous inconsistencies across the construction sector.
“At a time when the country urgently needs more skilled workers to meet housing and infrastructure demands, cutting corners on training is a short-sighted and dangerous path. We strongly urge Skills England and the government to listen to employers, training providers and industry bodies before it’s too late.
“Should these changes go through, all apprenticeships delivered in England will be impacted meaning other industry sectors should also be taking keen interest in the progress of these reforms.”
List of signatories
- Helen Hewitt, chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation
- Pete Clark, chief executive officer, Association of Fencing Industries
- Ken Price, managing director, Automatic Door Suppliers Association
- Wendy Belfield, BEMS controls engineer trailblazer chair and member of the Industry Competence Committee
- Mark Toye, chair, British Drilling Association
- Tom Bowtell, chief executive officer, British Coating Federation
- Damian Walters, chief executive officer, British Institute of Fitted Interiors Specialists
- Jill Nicholls, director of competence and compliance, Building Engineering Services Association
- Catherine Walker, executive officer, Building Controls Industry Association
- Steven Mullholland, chief executive officer, Construction Plant-hire Association
- Richard Catt, chief executive officer, Contract Flooring Association
- Mike Smith, director of technical and SH&E, Electrical Contractors Association
- Brian Berry, chief executive officer, Federation of Master Builders
- Ciaran Jennings, secretary, Federation of Piling Specialists
- Iain McIlwee, chief executive officer, Finishes and Interior Sector
- Jay Parmar, chief executive, Joint Industry Board
- Clive Dickin, group chief executive officer, National Access and Scaffolding Confederation and Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme
- Neil Ogilvie, chief executive, Painting and Decorating Association
- Jason Phillip Jermany, sector skills manager, Road Safety Markings Association
- Andrew Orriss, chief executive officer, Structural Timber Association
- Marion Marsland, chief executive officer, Thermal Insulation Contractors Association
- Caroline Sudworth, director, technical apprenticeship consortium
- Jason Poulter, national officer (Construction), Unite the Union
