Jessica O'ConnorMore than 40,000 future builders, bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and plumbers will be trained at a new network of Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) unveiled by the Government.
The specialist colleges, located in every region of England, are intended to deliver the skilled workforce needed to accelerate the construction of new homes, schools and hospitals.
Ministers said the move will help realise “every Brit’s dream” of home ownership while creating well-paid, high-skilled jobs for British workers.
Backed by £100m of government investment, the scheme supports the commitment to build 1.5 million homes as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
The announcement comes amid Office for National Statistics data showing around 35,000 vacancies in the construction sector.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “We need skilled workers to deliver the homes, schools and hospitals that communities across the country are crying out for, and today’s announcement underlines our commitment to the next generation of homegrown talent. Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will enable us to invest in people and give them the skills they need to break down barriers to opportunity in an industry which is essential to delivering growth through our Plan for Change.”
The new colleges are expected to train 40,000 learners by 2029, supporting both young apprentices and experienced tradespeople seeking to upskill for better-paid jobs.
A recent survey found that the proportion of construction firms providing training has fallen from 57% in 2011 to 49% in 2024, coinciding with an increasing reliance on migrant labour.
In response, the Construction Skills Mission Board has pledged to recruit an extra 100,000 construction workers each year by the end of the current parliament.
The ten TECs announced include Derby College Group, West Suffolk College, New City College, City of Sunderland College, Wigan and Leigh College, North Kent College, Exeter College, Bedford College, Dudley College of Technology, and Leeds College of Building.
They will operate under a ‘hub and spoke’ model, partnering with local providers and employers to raise training standards and ensure learners are ready for work upon qualification.
David Hughes CBE, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, called the announcement “very positive news” for jobseekers, employers and the government’s housing ambitions.
He said: “It represents significant investment and trust in the 10 successful colleges, and the college sector, recognising their crucial role in boosting the country’s construction sector by opening up high quality learning opportunities all over the country.”
Tim Balcon, chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board, added: “They represent a transformative opportunity for people to complete local vocational training, helping to drive regional growth and nurture the next generation of skilled construction workers in local communities.”
