Preet Kaur Gill MP backs next generation of builders and carers set to rebuild Birmingham

With students from Lordswood Boys School

• Labour announces radical skills reforms giving young people opportunity to develop skills in priority areas for the country  

• MP comes out in support of ‘skills revolution’ to deliver Plan for Change  

• Construction and healthcare workforce to be bolstered by plans  

Young people are set to benefit from 120,000 new training opportunities as part of a radical skills revolution, giving them the chance to develop skills where they are most needed across the workforce to rebuild Birmingham and the West Midlands.  

More skilled brickies, carpenters and healthcare support workers will soon be trained up as Labour continues drive to get Britain working, with landmark reforms announced today that refocuses the skills landscape towards young, domestic talent.  

Labour’s measures, backed by a record-breaking £3 billion apprenticeship budget, will open up opportunities for young people to succeed in careers the country vitally needs to prosper. More routes into skilled work means more people building affordable homes, more care for NHS patients and more digital experts to push our economy forward.  

This includes an additional 30,000 apprenticeship starts across this Parliament. This unprecedented investment is a critical step in delivering Labour’s Plan for Change mission to create a decade of national renewal. We are backing our young people and investing in skills as an engine of economic growth – putting more money in people’s pockets across [area] and breaking down barriers to opportunity.  

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

“I regularly visit schools and universities and hear directly from young people who tell me they want access to good quality jobs. These landmark reforms backed by investment will ensure we give young people the best start. Labour is delivering with more chances to go into key sectors like construction and healthcare.  

“Labour is backing young people in Birmingham so they can learn a trade, earn a wage and rebuild our country.” 

Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said:  

“A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive.  

“When we invest in skills for young people, we invest in a shared, stronger economic future – creating opportunities as part of our Plan for Change.  

“But everyone has a role to play in a thriving economy, and we’re taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment, it’s now the responsibility of young people to take them.”  

To support this, Labour is:  

• Implementing a 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, which will deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration in priority sectors, as announced in the recent Immigration White Paper.  

• Refocusing funding away from Level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026, while maintaining support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices. This will enable levy funding to be rebalanced towards training at lower levels, where it can have the greatest impact.  

• Launched 13 new Level 2 construction courses for adults in non-devolved areas under the Free Courses for Jobs scheme. In addition to the £3 billion apprenticeship budget, Labour is backing the new generation of workers through:  

• £14 million of adult skills funding for construction to be devolved to local mayors for next academic year, expected to support up to 5,000 additional adult learners.  

• £136 million for Skills Bootcamps across a range of priority sectors in 2025-26, providing training to over 40,000 learners.  

• £100 million over four years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps.  

• Ten Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction skills, opening in September 2025. As part of Labour’s Plan for Change, the reforms are a vital step in delivering the youth guarantee and addressing skills shortages to drive growth while creating better opportunities for young people and adults across England.  

Today’s announcement comes following a dramatic fall in the number of apprenticeship starts over the Conservatives’ last decade in power, with ONS statistics show as many as one in eight 16-24 year olds are not in employment, education or training. Labour is also confirming Board appointments to the new national body for skills, Skills England, which will work with employers and local leaders to shape training policy and delivery 

ENDS  

 Notes to editors:  

• Department for Education newsdesk is contactable at 020 7783 8300.  

Teacher recruitment in Further Education  

• This announcement comes after government published figures earlier this month which showed that around six thousand Further Education teachers received Targeted Retention Incentive (TRI) payments last year.  

• These payments are worth up to a £6,000 after tax on top of their salaries.  

• The majority of claims were in subjects critical to the government’s Plan for Change, such as construction (1,700), maths (1,400), and engineering (1,200).  

• The government also announced last week that we are investing an extra £160 million this year so that colleges and other 16-19 providers can recruit more expert teachers – and keep the ones they’ve got too. This will support high quality skills training for indemand sectors.  

• This is part of the government’s push to boost FE teaching and recruit 6,500 new teachers in schools and colleges across England. Construction training  

• Building on the over £600 million of investment announced by the Chancellor in March, the government is also boosting job prospects for adults interested in jobs in construction by expanding construction training via Skills Bootcamps and Free Courses for Jobs.  

• The Department will devolve around £14 million of additional adult skills funding for the construction sector to local mayors for next academic year, giving them the freedom to make the right choices for their areas.  

• For providers in non-devolved areas, 21 new construction courses at Level 2 will be added to the Free Courses for Jobs offer available for adults so more people can upskill, improve their job prospects and earn a higher wage.  

• This recognises the urgent need of employers in the sector for skilled workers, who are crucial to driving growth and delivering the government’s housebuilding targets.