‘Without people to build homes, it won’t happen’: Construction workers decry shortage of tradespeople

‘Without people to build homes, it won’t happen’: Construction workers decry shortage of tradespeople

Skills shortage a ‘national emergency’ in the eyes of some as calls for recruitment drive grow louder

The construction industry is on shaky ground; and the numbers reflect it

In just the first four months of this year, 840 building firms across the UK filed for insolvency, marking an all-time high, according to City A.M. For young tradespeople, this collapse is not just a headline, it is a daily struggle. From bricklayers to plumbers, those beginning their careers in construction are watching jobs vanish before they have even hammered in their first nail. Since 2017, UK governments have hailed apprenticeships as a co…