AoC comment on National Audit Office report on increasing construction skills

Commenting on the National Audit Office's (NAO) report on increasing construction skills, AoC Chief Executive David Hughes said: "The NAO report speaks to the heart of the issue: that we urgently need to increase construction skills to meet UK housing and infrastructure ambitions. Colleges and Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs) are central to meeting these ambitions, but system-level challenges in education and in the construction industry must be overcome to create a more adaptable, data-informed pathway for young people and adults to be gaining the skills needed by employers.  The government's £625m investment in skills alongside the establishment of the Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB) have been welcome steps in the right direction, and the NAO report brings timely scrutiny to keep ambitions on track. There is strong desire from young people to enter the construction industry, so the focus should be on growing the capacity of colleges and the number of apprentices being offered by employers to help them fill the jobs we know will be needed."