The National House Building Council (NHBC) is supercharging the UK house-building industry with the launch of 12 new multi-skills training hubs, backed by its £100 million investment.
The new national network of NHBC Multi-Skills Training Hubs will address the house-building industry’s growing skills shortage by producing an additional 3,000 skilled and site-ready tradespeople faster each year.
As the UK’s leading independent provider of warranty and insurance for new-build homes, NHBC is committed to closing the skills gap in the house-building industry with the launch of its new training hubs. These expert facilities will initially provide training in areas of critical demand for housebuilding, including bricklaying, groundwork and site carpentry. They are designed to stay flexible however, ready to adapt to local housing needs and changes in regulations.
Roger Morton, Director of Change and Training Hubs at NHBC, commented: “We’re not just training apprentices, we’re shaping the future of UK house building. With 25 years as an officer in the Royal Engineers, I’m driven by navigating challenges and improving quality. NHBC’s multi-skills hubs will shake up house-building training, tackling the skills shortage head-on and making a real difference to the future of the industry. Our multi-skills hubs will have a significant impact, producing skilled tradespeople faster and who are ready to hit the ground running from day one. Our mission is to make sure every apprentice meets NHBC’s high standards, guaranteeing quality and delivering the homes the UK urgently needs, when and where they’re needed."
“With competitive salaries for qualified tradespeople, NHBC’s Multi-Skills Training Hubs offer a faster, diverse and rewarding pathway into the house-building industry. Thanks to funding support through the Apprenticeship Levy and generous grants, there’s never been a better time for builders and contractors to invest in taking on apprentices and for people to start a rewarding career in this essential industry.”
NHBC’s Multi-Skills Hubs stand apart by immersing apprentices in real-site conditions from day one, fully preparing them for life on site. While traditional training routes can take up to 30 months, NHBC’s fast-track approach enables apprentices to complete their training in just 14 to 18 months – nearly twice as fast as other more traditional programmes – with many graduates achieving distinctions.
NHBC’s Multi-Skills Training Hubs will help meet industry demands for faster, more flexible and practical training to support UK house builders in meeting the government’s target of 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. The initiative is especially timely, as the UK faces an urgent need for skilled workers, with estimates showing over 250,000 new construction workers will be needed by 2028 to meet industry demand.
NHBC is currently evaluating prospective locations for its new Multi-Skills Training Hubs across the UK, with plans for its first hub to launch in early 2025 and 11 more to follow at pace.
