The UK Government’s pledge to “build, baby, build” must be matched by a parallel effort to “skill, baby, skill” if ambitious housing targets are to be met, the National House Building Council (NHBC) has warned.
NHBC’s Chief Operating Officer David Campbell is urging the government to take immediate and coordinated action to expand the construction workforce, cautioning that a shortfall in skilled labour risks derailing plans to deliver 1.5 million new homes.
Housing targets under pressure
Earlier in September, Housing Secretary Steve Reed committed to “leave no stone unturned” in accelerating the delivery of homes, promising to work closely with developers and housebuilders. But according to NHBC, these targets are unlikely to be met without significant investment in training, apprenticeships, and skills development across the construction sector.
Mr Campbell highlights the scale of the challenge: “We welcome ‘build, baby, build,’ but we need to ‘skill, baby, skill’ to ensure we have the workforce needed to build 1.5 million homes. More than 250,000 extra construction workers will be required by 2028 just to meet existing demand. Without immediate action, scaling up the volume of quality new homes will be incredibly challenging.”
£100m investment in training hubs
As the UK’s leading provider of new home warranties and a long-standing champion of construction quality, NHBC has committed £100 million to develop a national network of 12 new multi-skill training hubs. Each hub, equivalent in size to two-thirds of a football pitch, will train 3,000 apprentices annually in priority trades such as bricklaying, site carpentry and groundworks.
The initiative builds on NHBC’s existing training programme, which has already achieved high retention rates of around 90% in trades such as bricklaying. Apprentices trained at NHBC hubs will be qualified and site-ready in just 14 to 18 months – almost half the time of traditional education routes.
“Our first multi-skill training hub in Lichfield, supported by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and land from Barratt Redrow, is already operational,” said Mr Campbell. “By delivering hands-on training in real-world conditions and to NHBC’s rigorous quality standards, we are preparing apprentices to contribute immediately to the delivery of much-needed new homes.”
The skills gap and build quality
The NHBC Foundation’s latest report, Maintaining quality in the design and construction of 1.5 million homes, highlights the risks of scaling up build volumes without addressing skills shortages. Historically, increases in housing delivery have coincided with falling customer satisfaction.
Mr Campbell warned: “The key to breaking this cycle is ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled workers. You cannot create a skilled workforce overnight – which is why long-term, practical training initiatives are essential. A sustainable housing strategy must be built on both quantity and quality.”
Collaboration between Government and industry
NHBC welcomed recent government initiatives, including:
- A £625 million investment in construction skills
- The establishment of the Construction Skills Mission Board
- A £3 billion apprenticeship budget
However, the organisation stressed that collaboration across Government, industry, and training providers will be critical to achieving both housing targets and quality outcomes.
“Together, with continued collaboration, we can build the homes this country needs and ensure they are built to the highest standards,” Mr Campbell concluded.
The digital construction opportunity
Digital construction and modern methods of construction (MMC) are set to play a pivotal role in addressing the housing crisis. By integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM), offsite manufacturing, and digital skills training into apprenticeships, the industry can deliver higher-quality homes more efficiently while reducing rework and improving sustainability.
The development of NHBC’s multi-skill hubs presents a unique opportunity to embed digital construction techniques from the outset, equipping apprentices with the digital literacy needed for a modernised construction sector. This approach aligns with broader industry strategies to embrace innovation, reduce carbon emissions, and meet net zero commitments.
Urgent investment
The Government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million homes is clear. But without urgent investment in construction skills, apprenticeships, and workforce development, housing targets will remain out of reach. NHBC’s £100 million investment in training hubs represents a significant step forward – but long-term collaboration between Government, industry, and training providers will be essential.
If the mantra is “build, baby, build,” then the sector must now unite behind “skill, baby, skill” to ensure Britain has the workforce, the skills, and the quality needed to deliver homes fit for the future.
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