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The government has announced plans to launch 32 new Homebuilding Skills Hubs by 2028, aimed at fast-tracking training in key construction trades to help meet the UK’s housing demand.
The hubs will provide specialised training in trades such as bricklaying, roofing, plastering, scaffolding, electrical work, and carpentry. The initiative will create 5,000 additional construction apprenticeship places each year, backed by a £140m investment to boost housebuilding.
Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, said: “This government is committed to building 1.5 million homes during this Parliament. To meet this target, we need a skilled workforce, and these hubs will give apprentices the skills they need to seize opportunities and build a successful career.”
These purpose-built hubs will offer a realistic working environment to apprentices, with fast-track programmes that can be completed in just 12 to 18 months—half the duration of traditional apprenticeships. The goal is to address skills shortages in regions with the highest demand for housing, ensuring employers have access to a pipeline of skilled workers to drive economic growth and job creation.
The government is partnering with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the National House-Building Council (NHBC) to deliver the programme, in collaboration with Skills England to identify priority areas.
On November 22, Baroness Smith visited Oldham College to see firsthand how the hubs will support students in developing their skills. Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, added: “A skilled, efficient construction sector is crucial to meeting our housebuilding target. This funding will help grow, upskill, and diversify the workforce, delivering more homes for the country.”
The new hubs are part of a broader government effort to tackle skills shortages in the construction industry, ensuring the workforce is ready to deliver the housing needed across England.
