Government announces locations of 10 technical excellence colleges for trades

The government has announced the locations of 10 technical excellence colleges for training builders, bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and plumbers.

Backed with a £100m investment, the colleges are intended to help the construction and housebuilding sector deliver the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes in this parliament, while reducing reliance on foreign labour.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, there are around 35,000 job vacancies that need to be plugged in the sector.

The government says the new specialist colleges would train 40,000 construction learners by 2029.

Funding for the technical excellence colleges was first announced in the Spring Statement in March as part of a £625m package of investment in skills.

The rest of that investment will pay for new foundation apprenticeships, skills bootcamps and industry placements for school leavers.

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 colleges will operate on a “hub and spoke” model, working with local training providers and employers.

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Tim Balcon, chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board, said: “It’s wonderful to see the progress being made towards establishing these Technical Excellence Colleges for Construction. 

“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.”