The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has signed an agreement with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to develop a National Skills Academy for Construction.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and the CITB. It is the second such agreement the CITB has made with a mayoral combined authority, following one with Liverpool City Region.
CITB forecasting shows the region needs an estimated 3,810 extra construction workers each year for the next five years to meet expected demand.
Parker said: “We’re heading into a construction boom that will power new jobs, new homes and new opportunities right across the West Midlands. And this latest investment in training and apprenticeships will help make sure local people have the skills they need to land those new jobs. It’s by working with the CITB and local employers in this way that we can tackle this industry skills shortage head-on and get our workforce ready to build the infrastructure that will drive future growth.”
The agreement is among the first under a CITB national initiative to create a connected construction skills network across England, aligning national and regional priorities. The CITB said greater employer engagement in training and skills planning would help ensure local provision matched workforce demand.
The network will aim to improve intelligence sharing, align investment, and connect mayoral strategic authorities, Local Skills Improvement Plans, the government, and industry.
The agreement will also allow the combined authority to analyse live data from building sites across the region to identify skills gaps and train the estimated 12,000 extra workers needed over the next three years.
In Liverpool City Region, mayor Steve Rotheram signed an agreement with the CITB to tackle an estimated shortfall of 9,000 construction workers.
CITB chief executive, Tim Balcon said: “Addressing the construction industry’s skills needs requires industry-wide collaboration, strong partnerships with central and local governments, and long-term commitment.
“This is the latest strategic partnership we’re establishing with mayoralties across the country, strengthening relationships between employers, training providers and local decision-makers, creating a stronger foundation for addressing emerging skills challenges at a local level. The Memorandum of Understanding is an important step towards establishing a National Skills Academy for Construction and ensuring the workforce is ready to meet future demand.”
Last year, Parker announced a further £75m for construction skills training over the next three years to address an expected industry shortage of around 12,000 workers.
The authority said the construction pipeline was being driven in part by Parker’s commitment to tackle the region’s housing crisis. It said he had contracted a record 7,237 new homes over the last year, of which 2,452 were affordable, including 1,086 for social rent.
Earlier this month, Parker opened The Skills Centre at City Centre South, a £450m regeneration project being delivered by The Hill Group in Coventry city centre.
Andy Hill OBE, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “The construction industry can only deliver the homes and regeneration projects our communities need if we have the skilled people to build them. The new Skills Centre at City Centre South is a great example of how industry and local partners can work together to give people the skills and confidence to start a career in construction.
“We welcome this MoU between the CITB and WMCA, which will help create more pathways into the industry and ensure local people can benefit from the significant investment taking place across the region.”
Main image: CITB’s chief executive, Tim Balcon, with Mayor Richard Parker and Andy Hill OBE, founder and chief Executive of the Hill Group, at the signing
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