Skills

The number of apprentices starting their careers in construction increased for the first time in six years, according to figures released this week. Around 26,100 apprenticeships began in the year to July 2022, the latest figures available. This is an increase of more than 6,000 on the previous 12 months.…

More than 60,000 skills cards will no longer be valid from the end of next year, it has been revealed. Construction workers who obtained a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card through employer recommendation have just under two years to get the new qualifications or their cards will be withdrawn.…

Kier has developed a new scheme to entice workers back to the industry after a career break. The contractor’s new “returnship” scheme will see former workers reintegrate into Kier’s business over 12 weeks, which could then turn into a permanent position. The three-month programme will take the form of a…

National infrastructure goals are being undermined by the construction sector’s reluctance to modernise, a leading industry figure has warned. Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) chief executive Nick Smallwood said the industry had not changed in 40 years and actively resisted the adoption of new technologies as it was “paid the…

The New Year Honours List has recognised five industry stalwarts for their contribution to construction. Bill Robertson (pictured), the founder and executive chairman of construction giant Robertson Group, has been knighted. Robertson, who was already a CBE, was made a ‘Sir’ for his services to the construction industry and charity…

Laing O’Rourke has pledged to report information about the long-term physical and mental health of its workforce after securing leadership status through the government’s Disability Confident scheme. The contractor has been accredited as a Disability Confident Leader, meaning it has committed to encourage other employers to join the programme and…

More than a third of students have ruled out a career in construction, research has revealed. A poll of almost 4,000 people over the age of 16 and studying at school, college or university found that 37 per cent would not even consider going into the building industry. When they…

Average weekly earnings for September reached a six-month high of £722 and construction vacancies have risen again, latest figures show. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed that this was a 4 per cent jump on weekly pay packets from the previous month, and a 5.4 per cent jump from…

Seventy-five per cent of contractors have issues recruiting skilled operatives, according to a new survey from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). Meanwhile, a separate survey for net-zero skills among supply chain firms found 96 per cent of firms affected by skilled labour shortages. CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner called…

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) faces a potential bill of £10.3m after it revealed it had claimed government cash for its apprenticeship scheme without the required evidence. The CITB set aside £5.9m in its most recent accounts for possible repayments after errors were discovered in an audit of the…