Liverpool City Region has been recognised as a national leader in tackling the UK’s growing construction skills shortage, with a new report highlighting the region as a model for how employers, educators and industry can work together to create opportunities for young people.
The report, published by The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) in partnership with the Home Builders Federation (HBF), showcases Liverpool City Region as one of the country’s standout examples of successful employer collaboration, helping to inspire the next generation of construction workers at a time when the industry faces unprecedented demand.
The recognition comes as the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates that the UK will need almost 48,000 additional construction workers every year to meet future demand.
At the same time, Government has announced a £600 million investment aimed at training up to 60,000 skilled construction workers over the next four years, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the sector.
Liverpool City Region Construction Skills Programme Gains National Recognition
The report draws on responses from more than 330,000 young people and reveals that construction is now one of the five most popular career choices among secondary school students.
However, while interest in construction continues to grow, many young people fail to progress into long-term careers within the industry.
Liverpool City Region has been recognised for developing practical solutions to this challenge through strong partnerships between local businesses, education providers and the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub.
One initiative highlighted in the report is the SPL Change Academy, where SME Sterling Plastering Group has joined forces with national housebuilder Keepmoat to provide hands-on construction training through a purpose-built training facility featuring full-scale house-build mock-ups.
The employer-led programme was developed to tackle skills shortages, increase diversity within the industry and provide clearer pathways into construction careers for local young people.
By giving students real-world experience and direct access to employers, the programme is helping bridge the gap between education and employment.
New Homes Boom Creates Thousands of Career Opportunities
The report also underlines the economic importance of strengthening the construction workforce.
According to Home Builders Federation figures, every 10,000 homes built supports more than 30,000 jobs across the wider economy.
As Liverpool City Region continues to deliver new housing developments and regeneration projects, ensuring a pipeline of skilled workers is becoming increasingly important.
Councillor Graham Morgan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said the recognition demonstrates the value of investing in local talent.
He said:
“As we continue to deliver new homes across the Liverpool City Region, it’s vital that young people can clearly see the opportunities available to them in housebuilding.
“Through the work of the Careers Hub and partnerships with local employers, we are bringing those opportunities to life, giving young people real insight, hands-on experience and clear pathways into rewarding careers.”
The report also highlights challenges that remain across the industry, including low awareness of career pathways, difficulties retaining trainees and a significant gender imbalance, with just three per cent of girls expressing interest in construction careers.
Despite these challenges, Liverpool City Region is being recognised as part of a wider national movement demonstrating how collaboration between employers, schools, colleges and training providers can help address future workforce shortages.
Industry leaders believe the lessons learned in Liverpool could help shape how other regions tackle the construction skills gap while creating more opportunities for young people to access stable, long-term careers.
With demand for new homes continuing to rise and major infrastructure projects planned across the country, the report suggests Liverpool City Region is helping lead the way in preparing the workforce of the future.
