Chris Carr, the Grimsby-based president of the Federation of Master Builders, has ardently called upon more individuals to consider a career in the construction sector. He is adamant that the perception of construction as a ‘last resort’ career must change. With the Construction Industry Training Board forecasting a need for over 250,000 additional workers by 2028, Carr emphasises the importance of parents understanding the benefits of a construction career. While the respect for tradespeople is high in other European countries, Carr laments that the UK’s viewpoint is lagging behind. Carr’s comments come in the wake of the government’s announcement of a £600m investment over the next four years, aimed to train up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has recognised the shortage of skilled workers as a significant obstacle to economic growth, and hopes the government’s measures will provide opportunities for thousands of young people. These opportunities include ‘skills bootcamps’ and ten new technical excellence colleges. Carr has urged Lincolnshire to vie for the chance to host one of these new establishments, citing the region’s existing educational strengths.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
