Chancellor pledges £34m investment for innovative training
Chancellor Philip Hammond has pledged £34m to scale up innovative training models, as well as a further £30m in online digital skills courses.
These investments have been made so learners can benefit from emerging technologies as part of the National Retraining Scheme.
Steve Radley, director of policy at the CITB, welcomed the funding pledge, saying the right skills were critical to deliver other government promises.
“The £34m funding for construction training is a vital investment. The focus on digital skills is essential to developing a workforce which exploits the benefits of the digital revolution, aiding modern methods of production and boosting productivity.
“But there is no quick fix to the skills shortage and construction skills must be of a high standard.”
Mark Robinson, chief executive of Scape Group, also welcomed the funding for training, but added “the £34m earmarked today is unlikely to be enough given the sheer scale of the skills crisis in the industry.”
Hammond also said the Government was finalising a Construction Sector Deal that will support innovation and skills, including £170m of investment via the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and pledged another £20m to help FE colleges prepare for T-level qualifications.
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