Construction News

Skills shortages and inconsistent expectations around competency across the industry remain major barriers to progress, the trade body stresses

The trade association calls for a more balanced approach that protects fair pay for young people while sustaining the employers who train them

The slight uplift has been driven by a need to replenish stock following the Q2 construction activity

Mike Wharton quits CITB funding committee over recent cuts, nearly four out of ten plumbers complain apprentice system is burdensome and tradesman steps up to clean remembrance day mural

Sales across the UK rose by 0.8% over the 12 months to September 2025, according to the BMF’s Building Materials Building Index (BMBI)

MPs urge government to take direction action on the skills crisis, BIFIS issues warning about increase in AI-enabled fraud, and tradesman wins a £45,000 van, plus tools!

​​​​​​​The trade body cautions that any failure to implement rigorous checks may result in fraudulent operatives operating within supply chains

The awards, organised by the Department of Education, received over 1100 entries with submissions coming from both companies and individuals

​​​​​​​The contracts are designed to protect homeowners while helping professional building companies demonstrate their commitment to compliance and best practice

CITB slashes support for several courses, tradespeople warned to check the fine print on tools cover, and EuroMillions winner, and former builder helps out local charity

Funding for level 7 qualifications and attendance grant from long qualifications will be stopped

18-21-year-olds on universal credit to be pushed into construction roles, carpet fitter abused for sponsoring local football team and an electrician wins half a million quid on the lottery

The Committee delivered a clear and timely message: the UK cannot produce its clean energy and retrofit ambitions without targeted support for the SMEs

Many are unclear on the difference between kilowatt (kW), which refers to power capacity, and kilowatt-hour (kWh), which measures energy consumption

The six finalists were challenged to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in testing ‘real world’ situations

Construction output falls to its lowest point since May 2020, 27% of tradespeople are worried about rising costs and FMB wants to get more disabled people into the industry

Government aims for 10% reduction in costs with £4 million innovation fund, 9 firms busted for using illegal workers and Paralympian switches to carpentry

​​​​​​​Ellis Stevenson, an electrician from Moray, made history as the competition’s first-ever female champion

​​​​​​​Poor site safety standards and environmental sustainability pressures are some of the other issues the sector faces

​​​​​​​CITB’s research shows that the UK will need over 47,000 additional workers in the industry every year to meet demand

​​​​​​​Steve Mulholland believes that the Budget presented damaging tax reforms at a time when the industry needed certainty

UK could miss its heat pump target by a decade, homeowners choose to improve, rather than move and builder puts up 230,000 Christmas lights for military veterans' charity

​​​​​​​The builders’ merchant believes that fully funded apprenticeships will remove barriers for young people in the construction sector

Skills England pauses planned apprenticeship changes, government cancels ECO4 scheme from March 2026 and a plumber wins a fortune!

In a survey carried out by BESA, small businesses revealed they are prioritising cost and speed over safety

​​​​​​​The association handed over the contribution at the culmination of its year of celebrations, during which it had teamed up with the charity to use real-life member stories to raise awareness

“Death by a thousand taxes has already killed off many businesses, with insolvency rates still high within the construction industry," says NFB chief

Nearly two thirds of installers embrace online ordering, HMRC plots CIS fraud crackdown and parachuting plumber breaks world record

​​​​​​​Respondents to a CITB survey overwhelmingly agree that reporting suspected qualification fraud is essential and helps protect site safety

​​​​​​​FMB states that the £48 million investment to boost planning capacity is a further positive step

Nearly 40% of tradespeople admit to feeling stressed by the Christmas rush, FMB calls budget a big win and plans for the UK's tallest wood-framed building unveiled

​​​​​​​Dalton Roofing apprentices Samuel Jinks and Levente Szasz won gold and silver medals, respectively

​​​​​​​A former tradesperson and his wife with dementia can finally go home after living in a caravan for two years, all thanks to the help of Band of Builders (BoB)

Builders face higher wage bills in April, construction workers fall to the lowest proportion of the workforce in 100 years, and BoB completes major rebuild

​​​​​​​Almost all (95%) tradespeople say they’ve suffered a workplace injury during their career, research shows

​​​​​​​Vivaro Electrici-TEA is equipped with a built-in tea-making station - an electric kettle, fridge, sink and sugar dispenser with sufficient room for essential tools and materials

Coventry tool thieves get over four years each after crime spree, UK housing stock could be a cause of health emergency and electrician trains dog to fetch his tools

​​​​​​​The partnership will enhance training quality, expand educational access, and future-proof the workforce through innovative joint initiatives

​​​​​​​Gina York has been crowned Electrician of the Year at the 2025 On The Tools Awards

Joinery firm puts training plans on hold due to plans to cut apprenticeship length, one in 40 construction works injured in last three years and BUS expanded

The UK needs 250,000 additional construction workers to deliver planned projects – yet nearly half a million are due to retire in the next 15 years: report

​​​​​​​Screwfix staff were challenged to cover 500 metres, miles, or minutes, and to take part in activities like running, walking, and cycling

​​​​​​​Demand for skilled electricians is high and apprenticeships remain one of the most effective ways to develop talent