Two million pounds in funding has been secured to address the increasing shortage of skilled construction workers, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) announced.

The money is to be used to provide training, work placements and to support some 500 unemployed construction workers to get back into work.

Working in partnership with the London Enterprise Panel (LEP), CITB will provide a programme of skills and training activity tailored specifically to meeting the needs of the construction sector in Greater London.

Funding will be allocated to five core areas of development that include:

• Supporting 500 unemployed construction workers to return to work.

• Developing a shared work placement pilot for 100 people who are not currently in employment, education or training.


• Developing specialist business development interventions for 700 participants from small construction businesses.

• Providing support to support London Boroughs that are interested in adopting the CITB’s National Skills Academy for Construction’s and Client Based Approach schemes.

• Understanding the potential for researching the development of co-operatives between small construction businesses.

Janette Welton-Pai, CITB Sector Strategy Manager for Greater London said, "We’re delighted to announce the start of the Joint Initiative in Investment scheme for London and have been working very closely with the London Enterprise Panel over the last few months to agree on its objectives and scope.

"It’s an ambitious and unique programme but most importantly it implements a new approach to addressing skills and training needs.

"We have been using intelligence from both organisations to help identify the region’s specific requirements and closely map out local priority needs.

"One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to skills and it’s particularly important in the current climate to ensure that any training or up-skilling undertaken is relevant and purposeful.

"CITB looks forward to seeing the project get underway and make a real difference on the ground. We will continue to work closely with the London Enterprise Panel to deliver the scheme’s objectives and support London’s construction employers."

(MH/IT)