The Chancellor's Autumn Budget prominently featured initiatives aimed at stimulating local growth, regional investment, energy security, and place-based skills, all of which are set to influence the engineering construction industry. A key announcement includes an additional £100 million in funding for Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) to deliver local apprenticeship services across England. This expansion will extend the scheme from its initial seven areas to all 14 regions with directly elected mayors.
The initiative, now valued at £240 million, is designed to bridge the gap between local employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and young people aged 16 to 24. The first wave of MSAs, including the Greater London Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, are expected to commence delivery in early 2027. This devolution of funding empowers regions to tailor skills interventions to their specific workforce needs.
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is actively engaging with MSAs where the ECI plays a significant role in the local economy. This dialogue aims to ensure businesses fully benefit from devolved skills funding and secure a competent workforce. The budget also reinforces the Jobs Guarantee for eligible 18-24 year olds and the wider Youth Guarantee, aiming to ensure all young people are engaged in education, work, or training.
“"We await the detail of the proposals in the Autumn Statement and stand ready to support the government to flesh out how these could be implemented across the ECI to the greatest benefit of our employers."
The budget also addresses energy security, with the approval of the Jackdaw gas field and the announcement of a new Energy Wealth Fund. This fund will reinvest tax revenues from North Sea oil and gas into renewable and low-carbon energy projects, providing assurance for businesses investing in clean energy infrastructure. The ECITB is supporting this transition by enabling workforce mobility through standardised competence assurance programmes like Connected Competence and its Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Cross Skill Programme.
Recruitment is underway for the Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Cross Skill Programme, with cohorts starting in Grangemouth before Christmas and in Aberdeen in the New Year, in partnership with Forth Valley College, Relyon, and ASET.
