CITB trustee urges government to remove ‘bottlenecks’ in skills system

The CEO of Leeds College of Building (LCB) and voluntary trustee of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has called for the government to take urgent action to address construction skills shortages.

In an open letter to the secretary of state for education Bridget Phillipson, Nikki Davis raised concerns over the barriers to creating a skilled workforce.

“We urgently need professionals on a scale never seen before, yet we are seeing bottlenecks in a system when we need it to be as free-flowing as possible,” she wrote. 

“Housebuilding and net-zero targets can only be achieved with a skilled workforce, and that workforce needs to encompass school leavers, apprentices, and adults. We must ensure everyone is given the opportunity to attain good, sustainable, and productive jobs. 

“Apprenticeships are among the best ways to create a skilled workforce, yet the barriers to growing this provision are significant.”

While Davis welcomed the government’s ambition to recruit 6,500 new specialist teachers for schools and colleges, she insisted this target raises further concerns.

“Teaching salaries in further education do not come close to average earnings in the private construction sector. Without the necessary funding for competitive remuneration, colleges will continue to struggle with recruiting and retaining enough qualified and specialist teaching staff,” she wrote. 

“However, although finances will be restrictive, I [am] confident there are ways to remove the blocks faced by employers and providers to attract more staff and create further apprenticeship opportunities for young people.” 

Davis has formally invited the education secretary to visit LCB.

Established in 1960, LCB is the only further education college in the UK which specialises in the construction industry.