A new scheme is launching to address the increasing shortage of construction skills in London.

£2 million of government funding will be used to provide training, work placements and the support to help 500 unemployed construction workers get back into work.

An average of just under 1,300 new skilled construction workers will be required in Greater London every year through to 2019. Around 6,450 new workers in total will be required over the five year period (2015 -2019).

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The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) announced a new partnership with the London Enterprise Panel to work on providing a programme of skills and training activity tailored specifically to meeting the needs of the construction sector in Greater London.

The scheme forms part of a wider Joint Investment programme being rolled out by CITB, which aims to provide match funding to nine English Core Cities in a bid to promote and develop local construction skills. The construction sector accounts for eight per cent of GDP and a workforce of three million across the UK and has a significant role to play in the growth of local economies as the UK emerges from recession. The joint investment plan will support the need to address skills gaps in areas of opportunity to ensure that construction businesses can meet growing demand and contribute to local economic growth.

(CD/MH)