The UK is rolling out a network of specialist centres aimed at supercharging construction training. This initiative is not just about bricks and mortar—it’s about future-proofing the nation’s workforce and boosting the economy.
A £100 million investment in homegrown skills
New Construction Technical Excellence Colleges, backed by a £100 million investment, will be situated across England, ensuring students have access to cutting-edge facilities. This is part of the government’s Plan for Change, that aims to provide clear career paths for young people and existing workers looking to upskill. It’s a shift designed to strengthen the British working class and plug persistent skills gaps.
Training 40,000 construction learners by 2029
The Construction Technical Excellence Colleges aim to train 40,000 construction learners by 2029, breaking down barriers to opportunity along the way. Whether it’s apprentices starting their careers or seasoned workers seeking higher-skilled, better-paid roles, the ambition is the same: keep the workforce resilient, relevant, and ready for tomorrow’s building challenges.
This comes on top of a separate £625 million investment announced earlier this year to train an additional 60,000 skilled workers by 2029. That funding will cover foundation apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, and industry placements for school leavers—laying the groundwork for long-term growth in the construction sector.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson put it plainly: “We need skilled workers to deliver the homes, schools and hospitals that communities across the country are crying out for… Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will enable us to invest in people and give them the skills they need to break down barriers to opportunity.”
Where the Colleges will be
The newly announced Construction Technical Excellence Colleges are:
- Derby College Group, East Midlands
- West Suffolk College, East of England
- New City College, Greater London
- City of Sunderland College, North East
- Wigan and Leigh College, North West
- North Kent College, South East
- Exeter College, South West
- Bedford College, cross-regional
- Dudley College of Technology, West Midlands
- Leeds College of Building, Yorkshire and the Humber
Operating on a ‘hub and spoke’ model, each college will collaborate with local training providers and employers, boosting standards and sharing expertise across regions.
Leaders from across the construction and infrastructure sectors have welcomed the initiative.
Julia Pyke, joint managing director at Sizewell C, called it “exactly the kind of investment Britain needs” to support a new era of large-scale infrastructure. She highlighted her company’s own post-16 college plans, aimed at training hundreds in engineering, construction, digital, and logistics skills—vital roles for delivering the £20bn nuclear power project.
John Laramy, principal and CEO of Exeter College—which will serve as the South West’s Technical Excellence College—described it as a “personal privilege” to be part of a national effort to turbocharge construction training.
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