Industry Skills Plan 2021-2025

[edit] Introduction

On 11 March 2021, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) published a sector-wide skills plan for construction. Developed by industry and backed by the Government, the Industry Skills Plan for the UK Construction Sector 2021-25 sets out the key skills challenges facing construction and examines how they will be tackled.

[edit] Update 2023

On April 20, 2023 the Construction Leadership Council published its 2023-24 skills plan for construction and the built environment. For further details see article Industry Skills Plan 2023-2024

The plan offers solutions to short and long-term skills challenges in England and includes details of:

• A pilot project to give schoolchildren a chance to learn about a career in construction and built environment.
• The launch of a new competence approach to ensure there is an accepted, accredited definition of competence for all construction and built environment occupations.
• Expanding the new entrant apprenticeship brokerage service and introducing a new apprenticeship mentoring standard to increase apprenticeship starts, continuation and completions.
• The launch of Phase 1 of the Career Pathway Hub, an online portal aimed at defining high value career pathways for net zero, digitalisation, smart construction and repair maintenance and improvement.

This plan outlines how industry can deliver its objectives through shared, aligned priorities namely: culture change; routes into construction and built environment; competence and future skills.

[edit] Action areas 2021-25

The plan sets out a series of clear actions and commitments for both industry and Government to help meet these challenges, grouped under four areas:

• Careers.
• Standards and qualifications.
• Training, education and development.
• Culture and working environment.

[edit] Specific initiatives 2021-25

To improve the attractiveness of construction careers and to offer better access to them, a Talent View portal will be created, providing a one-stop-shop for new entrants. An industry standard for work experience will also be put in place.

There will be a focus on competence with new competence frameworks. New training standards will be set in two areas: to support the drive towards net zero fossil fuel emissions; and for smart construction to develop digital and offsite construction skills.

In addition, up to 7,000 STEM ambassadors will be encouraged to join the sector-specific construction and built environment scheme, with a target of 1,700 fully supported by 2024. A set of new construction traineeship programmes and a pathway from further education into construction will be developed to support and boost routes into the industry.

The plan also supports the drive towards increased direct employment.

[edit] Reaction 2021-25

Mark Reynolds, group chief executive of Mace and CLC member, said the plan “...should have a far-reaching impact on how we attract, retain and develop people in construction and help deliver upon Government’s home-building and infrastructure plans.”

Andrew Eldred, ECA’s director of skills and employment and a member of the CLC People and Skills Network, said “This skills plan signifies a marked change of gear. It seeks to tackle not only the industry’s immediate skills and training issues, but also the root causes of the UK’s historical under-performance. Just as our current problems are interrelated, so too are the solutions. A virtuous circle is potentially within our grasp, incorporating stronger competence and employment standards, increased employer engagement with education, and improved innovation, quality and safety”.

Sarah Beale, chief executive of CITB and chair of the CLC Skills Network said: “We now all need to get behind this plan and support sector-wide initiatives such as the Talent Retention Scheme, STEM Ambassadors and the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect programme. There’s no doubt that if this spirit of collaboration continues and this plan is delivered, Industry will be much better able to attract new talent and meet upcoming skills and productivity challenges.”

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• CLC Maintaining Employment in Construction report published.
• Construction Industry Training Board CITB.
• Construction Leadership Council CLC.
• Construction skills crisis threatens UK net zero goals.
• Home thoughts from abroad: skills development.
• Industry Skills Plan 2023-2024.
• National Infrastructure Plan for Skills.
• National vocational qualification.
• Queen's Speech 2021.
• Recruiting and retaining talent in the construction industry.
• Skills to build.
• Skills in the construction industry.

[edit] External resources

• CLC, Industry Skills Plan for the UK Construction Sector 2021-25.