The latest Skills Board meeting focused on major developments at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) around construction workforce reform, youth employment support and industry training investment. Members discussed DWP’s £1.5 billion Youth Guarantee programme, which aims to help 16–24-year-olds access education, training and employment opportunities over the next three years. Key measures include expanded Youth Hubs, increased work experience and sector based placements, additional apprenticeship support for SMEs and the introduction of foundation apprenticeships combining paid work with structured learning. Discussions also explored proposals for guaranteed paid work placements for long-term unemployed young people and the importance of sector specific training pathways to improve work readiness before entering construction roles.
The meeting also covered ongoing reform across the construction skills system, including discussions around the proposed merger of CITB and ECITB to form a single industry training board and the potential opportunities and risks associated with greater alignment across the sector. Members highlighted possible benefits such as reducing duplication and increasing levy funding available for training and grants, while also raising questions around future governance and long term delivery.
Updates were also provided on a number of training and workforce initiatives, including new pilot programmes for Steel Framed Systems training, Apprenticeship and qualification reviews, expanded E Learning provision and specialist workforce upskilling support for fit out, drylining and plastering. Wider discussions focused on improving regional training access, strengthening employer confidence to invest in skills and exploring the future development of digital skills passport systems to support workforce planning across construction.
Full details of the meeting can be found here
If members are interested on joining the FIS Skills Board, please contact Marie Flinter (marieflinter@thefis.org) or Beena Nana (beenanana@thefis.org)