Preet Kaur Gill MP backs new measures to boost construction workforce and get Britain building

• New measures to tackle construction skills shortages to build 1.5 million homes  

• Will deliver up to 60,000 more construction workers by 2029 as Government goes further and faster on delivering Plan for Change  

• £600 million investment will fund more construction placements, establish Technical Excellence Colleges, launch new foundation apprenticeships and expand Skills Bootcamps  

Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed news that Birmingham is set to benefit from an unprecedented package of measures to boost the construction workforce, deliver good jobs, and get Britain building to deliver new homes and infrastructure projects.  

As part of Labour’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes, the government has announced £600m worth of investment over the next four years to get Britain building, training 60,000 more construction workers and breaking down the barriers to opportunity for thousands of young people. 

Under the previous Conservative government, the construction sector repeatedly sounded the alarm over skills shortages, with around 320,000 workers lost between 2019 and 2024.  

The West Midlands already has a proud track record of construction jobs, with 173,292 working in the sector – around 5.7% of the total regional workforce. Labour’s plans will not only ensure more workers remain in construction jobs, but that young people are given the opportunity to work in the industry.  

Figures show more than 987,000 young people in the UK are classed at NEET with areas like Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Walsall having rates double the national average. 

Labour’s New Foundation Construction Apprenticeships will give young people aged 16-21 the tools they need for a sustained and rewarding career, with employers given up to £2,000 for every apprentice they take on. The package will see new funding to support Further Education providers in offering industry placements, with tens of thousands of students per year set to gain industry experience.  

The government will also meet a manifesto promise with new funding for ten Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction, as well as an expansion to Skills Bootcamps backed by £100 million of funding.  

Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:  

“This Labour government is serious about its Plan for Change to get Britain building.  

“This fantastic package of support will not only fuel growth but unlock opportunity for young people and allow experienced construction workers to pass on their skills.  

“This will mean more high-quality jobs across Birmingham and the West Midlands, improved economic growth and colleges working closely with local employers to meet their skills needs.”  

ENDS