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Government Construction Champion highlights skills shortage as “national emergency”

Mike Reader MP said the current approach of school talks and work experience programmes was not enough to tackle the skills shortage. 

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Government Construction Champion highlights skills shortage as “national emergency”
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The skills shortage in construction was described as a “national emergency” by Mike Reader MP, the Government’s Construction Champion, who called for a new approach on the Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) ‘Build Up from the Basement’ podcast. 

He said the current approach of school talks and work experience programmes was not enough to tackle the skills shortage. 

He supported the idea of intensive boot camps and a national campaign to recruit people into construction, similar to military recruitment. 

Reader said he wanted children to learn about construction much earlier and suggested introducing a GCSE focused on the built environment, as he believed engagement with young people starts too late.

Reader said: “We can’t keep doing the same thing we’ve always done of talking in schools, of doing work experience programs. 

Additionally, he backed intensive boot camps and a national recruitment drive for construction, drawing inspiration from the military. 

Reader added: “I think actually either you do or don’t want to work in the sector… and you should be able to come in, try it and learn very quickly.

“We should be looking at GCSE for the built environment… I think we engage too late. 

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“We should be introducing people a lot younger to the built environment.”

On modern methods of construction, Reader said there was room for both new technology and traditional trades. 

He said: “There is a place for these modern trades as well. It’s not going to work on every site… but we also will always have a need for specialist trades…I think we’re a very innovative industry. 

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“What we’re not great at is adopting… There is a place to say we’ve got a product we can deliver now, let’s just get on and deliver it.”

Reader announced progress towards licensing for retrofit work, following recommendations from the Energy Security Select Committee. 

He said the Government will set up an industry panel to address consumer protection and trade recognition. 

Reader said: “We need skilled trades like the building trades to be recognised for being the skilled craft people that they are and the quality that they deliver.”

He pointed to £14.3bn lost to rogue builders, with some constituents losing £60,000 to builders who disappeared. 

He said licensing would help fix the industry’s image. 

Brian Berry, CEO of the FMB, said: “Mike Reader’s commitment to driving forward a licensing scheme for retrofit work represents a significant step towards protecting consumers and raising standards across the construction industry. 

“His understanding and personal experience in the industry and of the challenges facing our members, combined with his political position, makes him a valuable advocate for the professional trades. 

“The FMB has long campaigned for proper licensing and regulation, and we’re pleased to see the Government taking these consumer protection issues seriously and we look forward to continuing to work with Mike in the future to better support the building industry.”

Berry added: “You’ve got a Government that is pro-building and has just launched a small business strategy and is really trying to change how the government engages with SMEs, particularly small builders, to make sure they’re part of the conversation.”

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