Shaun Wadsworth Breaks Down Government’s New Construction Skills Package Worth £600m

“In late March, the UK Government announced a £600 million investment in construction skills training, aiming to address critical workforce shortages and support its ambition to build 1.5 million homes by 2029. Official figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that there were 38,000 construction vacancies in the three months to February 2025. However, a deeper challenge persists in the fact that many skilled workers are nearing retirement age. The Construction Products Association (CPA) estimates that the industry will lose half a million employees, 25% of the total workforce to retirement over the next 10 to 15 years.

“This creates an ever-increasing void of skilled labour in the construction sector. In response, the Government has committed £165 million of the planned investment to delivering more construction courses at colleges and £100 million to upskilling new, returning, and existing workers. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) will contribute an additional £32 million, funding over 40,000 industry placements a year for the next four years. In total, the Government expects the package to train up to 60,000 workers. By increasing the availability of apprenticeships and training programs, this initiative aims to create a pipeline of skilled workers to meet growing industry demands.

“The funding is primarily intended to boost training in larger construction trades such as bricklaying, engineering, electrical work, and carpentry. While core construction roles will welcome the investment as a much-needed boost, whether this £600 million pledge will trickle down to flooring contractors in a meaningful way remains to be seen. This makes it crucial for industry voices, like the CFA, to engage with policymakers to advocate for the flooring sector and ensure they receive the necessary support.

“It is also imperative that the CFA continues to engage with all stakeholders within the sector, developing, encouraging and supporting employers, initiatives, and training providers to push forward in tackling the industry’s skills and labour shortages — with or without additional Government support.

“Over the past four years, the CFA has proudly led several key initiatives to support the flooring industry:

• Launched “Future Fitter”: Our campaign and support material to assist the industry in attracting new floor layers into the industry.
• Apprenticeships and Funding: Successfully lobbied for significant improvements to apprenticeship funding, increasing support from £13,000 to £17,000 per apprentice. This crucial incentive benefits both employers and training providers.
• Apprenticeship Growth: Through our training arm, FITA, we have significantly expanded apprenticeship delivery, while also supporting other providers across the UK.
• Support in Scotland: CFA and its members helped to secure a new home for apprenticeship delivery in Scotland at CITB Inchinnan, ensuring the continuity of this vital programme.
• Engaging the Next Generation: CFA and its members have actively participated in STEM events, strengthened links with schools, and hosted “Open Doors” events to highlight career opportunities in flooring.
• Collaboration Across the Sector: We have launched new training programmes and partnerships with manufacturers and distributors, raising awareness of industry challenges and driving forward solutions.

“The UK Government’s £600 million investment in construction skills is a step in the right direction, but for the flooring sector, its true impact remains uncertain. While general construction trades stand to benefit, the specialist skills needed within flooring must not be overlooked. The CFA will continue to champion the industry, ensuring that flooring contractors and installers receive the recognition and resources they deserve. Now, more than ever, collaboration between businesses, training providers, and policymakers is essential to secure the future of the flooring workforce. The fight for skills and labour solutions continues, and the CFA remains at the forefront.

“If you consider the findings from the CFA’s research outlined in our Future Fitters Guidance Booklet (available as a free download from the CFA website) you will note that one thing we identified was the need for more localised delivery of training and apprenticeships. There are many areas of the country that are not ideally covered, particularly for apprenticeships. If we can access some of that funding and influence college courses, in my opinion that would be a primary target.

“At the same time, I would also like to encourage more contractors to employ apprentices and those seeking a career change. Having the opportunity to train is only one part of the dynamic, willing employers is in my view one of the other key elements and a critical part of the equation.

“If you have questions about skills and labour, CFA membership or training opportunities for you or your business please do get in touch.”

Shaun Wadsworth
CFA Training Manager
Shaun@cfa.org.uk
0115 950 6836