The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has announced an investment of £1m for regional construction skills hubs over the next two years
The investment in regional construction skills hubs will help to boost training capacity and encourage new entrants in the ‘Industrial Cluster’ hot spots that are at the heart of the UK’s decarbonisation agenda.
The ECITB estimates that the construction industry needs 25,000 extra workers for major engineering construction projects and to meet the UK’s net zero goals.
What are the six industrial cluster hot spots?
The six industrial clusters are:
- The Black Country
- East Coast (comprising Teesside and Humber)
- Northwest England, Scotland
- South Wales
- The Solent.
Major projects are underway that will deploy a combination of energy efficiency measures, hydrogen production, carbon capture, use and storage technologies, and fuel switching including electrification to decarbonise industrial assets in these regions.
The investment in regional construction skills will help to address the skills shortage
Andrew Hockey, ECITB Chief Executive, commented: “This investment will address the skills shortages by supporting training and assessment capacity-building projects in the UK’s industrial heartlands that will directly increase the flow of workers into the industry.
“We are looking to support projects focused on enhancing training and skills provision in the six major industrial cluster regions, as well as other major ECI projects within a defined geographical footprint.”
Grants between £50,000 and £500,000K will be awarded to eligible projects
The grants can be used to support either capital or operational expenditure. Capital expenditure may include upgrading training equipment or facilities.
Operational expenditure may include curriculum development, training for staff, industry secondments and engagement of SMEs to support training development.
