A Lichfield site has become the first in a planned national network of multi-skill training facilities to receive planning permission.
The National House Building Council (NHBC) aims to shake up house-building training and tackle the construction skills shortage head-on with 12 hubs, representing a £100 million investment to support 3,000 apprentices a year.
The Lichfield Multi-Skill Training Hub at The Lakes development, Curborough, will be the first to open later this year.
Costing £1 million and measuring the size of two-thirds of a football pitch, the facility will provide skilled, site-ready tradespeople faster, giving housebuilding a significant boost locally.
Initially it will focus on essential trades like bricklaying, groundwork and site carpentry but will aim to adapt to local housing needs and regulatory requirements.
The hub will be funded in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), with land provided by Redrow Homes.
CITB is investing £40 million alongside NHBC’s sum to establish up to 32 hubs by 2027 to support the Government’s homebuilding target of 1.5 million new homes.
Commenting on the approval of the NHBC Multi-Skill Hub at Lichfield, Roger Morton, Director of Business Change at NHBC, said: “We’re not just training apprentices, we’re shaping the future of UK house building.
“The new NHBC Multi-Skill Training Hubs will revolutionise house-building training, tackle the skills shortage head-on and make a real difference to the future of the industry. Our mission is to make sure every apprentice meets NHBC’s industry-leading standards, driving quality and delivering the homes the UK urgently needs, when and where they’re needed.
“With competitive salaries for qualified tradespeople, NHBC’s Multi-Skill Training Hubs offer a faster, more diverse and rewarding pathway into the house-building industry. Thanks to funding support through the Apprenticeship Levy and generous grants, there’s never been a better time for builders and contractors to invest in taking on apprentices and for people to start a rewarding career in this essential industry.”
Tim Balcon, CEO of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), said: “We have worked closely with NHBC, government and the home-building industry to develop a programme that is focused on equipping individuals with the skills they need to be productive on site, in the most efficient way. This is truly a collaborative approach and one we are very excited about.”
Marc Cattell, Learning and Development Manager at Redrow Midlands, added: “Redrow is delighted to be able to offer the land for the development of the new NHBC Multi-Skill Training Hub, reflecting our dedication to investing in people, creating opportunities and equipping them with the resources they need to achieve a career in our industry.”
NHBC is currently evaluating other prospective locations for its new multi-skill training hubs across the UK.
