The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has helped more than 4,000 apprentices join the construction sector in 2024-25 through its New Entrant Support Team initiative.
The team supported 4,128 apprenticeship starts over the financial year – up from 2,340 the year before.
CITB said it plans to double the size of its NEST programme under the UK Government’s skills package for the construction sector.
The training board will invest £32m of that sum to fund more than 40,000 annual industry placements for learners on Level 2 and Level 3 courses, including NVQs, BTECs, T Levels and advanced apprenticeships.
NEST was created to help employers with the recruitment and retention of new entrants, particularly apprentices, offering hands-on assistance and helping to address employment barriers.
It is one of several government-backed CITB initiatives announced recently. In March, the training body committed £40m to create Homebuilding Skills Hubs to deliver fast-track apprenticeships.
All these schemes form part of CITB’s wider Strategic Plan for 2025-29, which commits £550m to attracting new entrants to the construction sector.
It said the plan aligns with the UK government’s target of building 1.5 million homes and delivering 150 major infrastructure schemes during the current parliamentary term.
CITB executive director for nations engagement Deb Madden said the NEST initiative was “essential” in building a reliable pipeline of apprentices and construction workers.
“Our recent investment partnerships alongside the Government will help to continue the good work of NEST by removing barriers for employers, particularly small businesses, and support them to recruit and retain new entrants,” she said.
Source: CITB press release