UK Standard Skills Classification
The UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC) is a new national framework, to help the UK think about and discuss skills in It was created on behalf of Skills England and officially launched at a special event on 30 April and publically announced by the government on 11 May 2026.
The UK Skills Explorer Digital tool is new comprehensive way of identifying and describing skills needs to help employers, training providers, job seekers, and people looking to upskill to get the best from the system. The innovative new tool will make it much easier to match people to job opportunities and target skills investment where it matters most. It offers the most detailed, data driven picture yet of the UK labour market, and marks a significant step forward in how we think about and discuss skills in the UK.
A report, UK Standard Skills Classification development report, also published by Skills England, explains how the SCC has been developed, its uses, and proposals for how it could be maintained.
The tool was created by the University of Warwick’s Institute for Employment Research (IER) and the University of Sheffield, in partnership with Omnifolio on behalf of Skills England, the SSC is a standardised set of categories that identify the skills, knowledge and tasks required across UK occupations. It provides linkage between skills, occupations and knowledge, the SSC allows users, including employers, training providers and job seekers, to confidently identify needs and plan provision using a simple, common language.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Careers in the electrotechnical industry
- CIOB Articles.
- Civil engineering careers advice and guidance
- Historic Environment Skills and Careers Action Plan for England HESCAPE
- Lack of construction careers advice threatens housing targets, CIOB warns
- National construction careers campaign needed to meet development demand
- Skills and careers
- Skills in the construction industry
- UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC): A shared framework for describing skills needs
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Where its at podcast (and video) - The role of the Architectural Technologist as an Expert Witness.
More than 200 remarkable buildings added to SAVE’s Buildings at Risk register.
Government scraps pre-application consultation for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Historic England and infrastructure
New projects offer opportunities for the historic environment and local communities.
Construction Management, 2 July
Construction deaths halve in two years.
Green Book changes to drive investment in all parts of UK.
Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES)
CIAT briefing on response to consultations for privately rented non-domestic properties.
Connect, collaborate, shape the future
Registration now live for UK Construction Week Birmingham.
CIOB announces Saul Humphrey FCIOB as new President for 26/27 term.
A quick, simple, and zero-bills solution to prevent overheating.
The adaptive reuse of large industrial structures.
Promoting the circular economy by extending the life of buildings.
CIAT responds to Climate Change Committee report
An urgent wake-up call for both government and the built environment.


















