West Midlands Combined Authority: Why apprentices are key to filling the construction skills gap

Thousands of extra construction workers will be needed across the West Midlands in the next few years to meet a building boom, and apprenticeships are set to play a vital role.  

The construction industry is flourishing thanks to plans for 12,200 new homes a year, a £2.4bn transport infrastructure programme, flagship schemes like the East Birmingham Sports Quarter and a £160m retrofit scheme to make thousands of homes more energy efficient. 

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) says around 4,000 extra workers will be needed annually including carpenters, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers, as well as people for technical roles like surveying and engineering. 

One way of meeting the demand for extra workers is by filling vacancies through the recruitment and training of young people leaving school, further education or higher education – and apprenticeships offer one way of doing that.  

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, recently announced a £75m skills package to train more than 12,000 people over the next three years to help tackle the region's shortage of construction workers. Apprentices will be key to supporting this growth. 

The skills package is being led by Dudley College's Technical Excellence Hub – one of just 10 across the country that will focus on teaching the skills most needed by construction firms. 

The Mayor also pledged to work with employers to create 20,000 work experience, training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people in the region - more than 17,000 placements have already been created. 

The Mayor said: “Apprenticeships offer a great way for employers to attract future talent as well as upskilling and reskilling their existing workforce.  

"We're heading into a construction boom that will power new jobs, new homes and new opportunities right across the region and I'm calling on businesses to sign up to the pledge and take on apprentices.

“By backing investment in apprenticeships and training we can make sure that local people get the first shot at the good jobs being created and make sure that businesses can draw on local talent with the latest skills.”  

The Mayor's call to action comes during National Apprenticeship Week, which this year runs from February 9 to 15 and is an opportunity to come together to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.  

The Mayor is also working with On The Tools, the nation's largest online construction community, to remind SMEs of the benefits of taking on apprentices. 

Lee Wilcox, co-founder and CEO of On The Tools, said: “Apprenticeships only work when people are placed into the right roles, with the right support around them. Through On The Tools, we're helping connect apprentices and businesses in a way that reflects how construction actually works on the ground. Supporting the Mayor's pledge is about making it easier for SMEs to take someone on - and making sure apprentices get a proper start in the trade.” 

Max Worton, aged 16, is one of thousands of young people that are choosing to take the apprenticeship route into employment being highlighted during National Apprenticeship Week. Max has kickstarted his career in construction by becoming a Level 2 bricklaying apprenticeship with Persimmon Homes and will be fully qualified in early 2028. 

Growing up, Max watched his dad work for a firm producing pallets and this sparked an interest in building, inspiring him to pursue a job in construction. Now, he is working towards his bricklaying qualification at Dudley College while also working on site with Persimmon Homes. 

Max said, “I chose the apprenticeship route because right from the beginning you know what you are getting into. You can see first-hand whether you enjoy the work and want to pursue it as your long-term career. Apprenticeships give you the theory and the real-life onsite experience. I'm gaining an industry-standard qualification and earning money at the same time.  

“I knew from day one that this was the right route for me. There are also lots of opportunities to progress within the company, starting at trade level then moving into management. One day I'd like to become a site manager or even start my own bricklaying company and this way I'll get the experience of everything that involves. 

“I enjoy meeting new people every day, and I'm already learning a lot from their experience.”  

By working closely with employers such as Persimmon Homes and skills providers such as Dudley College the WMCA aims to create quality apprenticeship opportunities for young people in the region.” 

Leigh Fuller, project manager, Persimmon Homes, said, “Apprenticeships provide high-quality training, dedicated mentoring and support and a debt-free route into skilled professional roles.  

“They offer structured learning built on strong partnerships and through co-production with local colleges, so we know they are shaping the workforce we need to deliver good quality homes for the region.” 

“Apprentices bring energy, fresh ideas and sector-specific skills and up to date learning and knowledge and it's why we have invested into around 233 apprentices across the business helping to create a strong talent pipeline for the future of the company.” 

“Max is a great example – he goes above and beyond, he's committed and consistently performs well with a real desire to learn and develop.” 

Max shares his experience – watch the video here: Max Worton 

Follow WMCA on Instagram and LinkedIn to hear more during National Apprenticeship Week. 

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) delivers a range of programmes aimed at tackling youth unemployment in the region which in some areas is twice the national average.  

WMCAs Path 2 Apprenticeships programme is designed to provide young people with the knowledge and skills to enable them to progress into good apprenticeship jobs. The programme offers up to 16 weeks of support and is aimed at 19 to 29-year-olds who are currently unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit or economically inactive. 

Participants enrolled on the programme receive ongoing assessment, comprehensive employer training input and on completion are offered a guaranteed apprenticeship paying at least the National Minimum Wage.  

Path 2 Apprenticeships help young people to decide whether an apprenticeship is the right route for them to gain employment and provides employers with an opportunity to recruit new talent to their business. 

The WMCA also administers an Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund programme where SMEs accessing the scheme can get donor funds to use towards their training costs enabling them to invest that money into recruiting additional apprentices or increasing apprenticeship pay to attract more candidates.