Calls for more bricklayer teachers to tackle skilled workers shortage

The government has set an ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2028, a goal that is already in jeopardy due to a severe shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry.

One of the biggest obstacles is the inability to recruit enough bricklaying teachers, which is hindering the training of the next generation of builders needed to build houses.

With demand for skilled workers soaring, education providers are calling for urgent government action to address the gap before it becomes too late.

Bricklaying courses overwhelmed by demand

Simon Cook, the principal of Mid Kent College, has been vocal about the strain his institution is under.

"We have about 800 students studying construction skills like bricklaying at the moment, but the demand is so high, we could easily be teaching 2,000 students if we had the resources," Cook said.

The college is saying they are struggling to recruit enough teachers due to budget limitations and low pay. "A bricklaying teacher earns about £20,000 less than a skilled bricklayer working on-site," Cook explained, highlighting the financial imbalance that is putting off potential recruits.

This issue is far from unique to Mid Kent College. Across the UK, colleges offering vocational courses like bricklaying, plumbing, and carpentry are reporting similar struggles to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in the construction sector.

Simon Cook

Simon has been the principal at Mid Kent College for over 11 years.

Government investment: A double-edged sword

While the government has committed to building 1.5 million homes, critics argue that its investment in the sector falls short of addressing the workforce shortage.

"The government says it's investing in education and skills, but unless we see a significant increase in funding for teachers’ wages, these ambitious housing goals won’t be possible," said Cook. "We're willing to expand our programs, but we can’t do that without proper investment in our teaching staff."

The Department for Education has acknowledged the importance of teacher retention in the construction sector and introduced some measures to address the issue, including a £6,000 annual retention incentive for early-career construction teachers in further education (FE) colleges.

However, for many institutions, this incentive is not enough to make up for the pay gap between teaching and working in the industry.

Building skills for the future: A nationwide effort

In response to the growing crisis, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has been working closely with the government to roll out initiatives aimed at fast-tracking the development of new apprentices and skilled workers.

This includes the launch of homebuilding skills hubs, which will deliver high-quality training and apprenticeships. Once fully rolled out, the CITB estimates that these hubs will create up to 5,000 new apprenticeship opportunities annually.

"CITB is collaborating with government and industry partners to address the skills shortage by launching homebuilding skills hubs," said a CITB spokesperson. "These hubs are part of a wider strategy to meet the demand for workers needed to meet the government’s homebuilding targets. By 2027, we expect to have up to 32 hubs in operation, supporting thousands of new apprenticeships and job opportunities across the UK."

However, some industry leaders argue that these initiatives are only part of the solution. "While the skills hubs are a step in the right direction, we need a broader and more sustainable approach to addressing the underlying issues of recruitment and retention in vocational teaching," said Cook. "If we don't act now to ensure more teachers enter the profession, we won’t be able to meet the future demand for skilled workers."