More recognised qualifications are the key to tackling the skills gap in construction, according to a new study.

A report from the Construction Products Association (CPA) has revealed thousands of training programmes ran by manufacturers and construction product distributors are mostly informal 'on-the-job' teaching.

Adrian Belton, Chief Executive of the CITB, said the industry is being held back by factors including too few skilled staff, outdated qualifications, an ageing workforce, and difficulty in accessing skills funding.

It is estimated by the CITB that 224,000 construction workers will be needed in the next five years to meet expected output growth of more than 20% by 2019.

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Mr Belton said: "We have to create more relevant qualifications, a greater number of apprenticeships and better continued professional development of the existing workforce.

"Together with the CPA, we will take forward the report's recommendations to link training to qualifications, better signpost available skills funding and increase collaboration with information and guidance to support their members' skills needs."

The Skills Report 2015 looked at the number of training activities CPA members ran, and recommends developing a new framework to align this training with recognised qualifications.

In total, 21'000 people were put through 3,525 courses a year, however only a small fraction of cases lead to a nationally recognised qualification.

Dr Diana Montgomery, chief executive of the CPA, said: "By establishing a recognised training process, manufacturers would not only have greater confidence that their materials and products are being installed correctly by qualified individuals, but the builders and tradespeople would be better trained, with more flexible and professional credentials; all of which should in turn improve productivity."

(LM/CD)