Regional Gaps in Construction Apprenticeships Highlighted by CITB Report
Analysis reveals stark differences in apprenticeship starts between London and Scotland, prompting calls for localised skills initiatives.
By The SME Chronicle Newsroom
••2 min read
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Generic image of a split scene contrasting a busy construction site with a quieter office environment, representing regional differences in opportunities.
A new report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has highlighted significant regional disparities in construction apprenticeship opportunities across Great Britain, with London showing the fewest starts relative to demand.
The report, titled Construction Apprenticeships: Opportunities. Challenges. Support., reveals that London has approximately 30 construction employers for every apprenticeship start, a stark contrast to Scotland, where there are fewer than four employers per start. Across other regions, the ratio ranges between six and 20 employers per start.
When comparing apprenticeship starts to the size of the construction workforce, Scotland recorded 42.3 starts per 1,000 construction workers in 2024-25. London, however, had the lowest rate at just 8.9 starts per 1,000 workers. This indicates a significant employer participation challenge, particularly in London, which hosts the largest concentration of construction businesses in Britain.
These findings underscore the need for devolved and place-based skills interventions tailored to local labour market conditions. With many young people currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET), increasing the number of employers offering apprenticeships could provide vital routes into skilled work and help the construction sector develop its future workforce.
Nationally, around 33,000 individuals began a construction apprenticeship in 2024-25. However, only about 17% of construction businesses currently employ an apprentice, with micro businesses, which constitute 95% of the industry, being less likely to participate. The CITB suggests that practical support for employers, especially SMEs, is crucial for increasing recruitment and support for apprentices, alongside efforts to improve completion rates.
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"Construction needs skilled people across the whole of Britain, and this report shows striking differences in the scale of opportunity for people to start apprenticeships depending on where they live."
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"Apprenticeships are fundamental to the future of construction, and a hard-working apprenticeship is great to have in any business. With many young people also not being in education, employment, or training, apprenticeships can be a fantastic way for them to join the workforce, the sector, the government, and education providers need to come to come together."
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"We cannot afford for apprenticeship opportunities to be lower or to be concentrated in only some parts of the country. By making apprenticeships easier to offer, we can create more opportunities locally and build a stronger, more resilient construction workforce."
