The West Midlands is preparing for a major construction boom, and Mayor Richard Parker has unveiled a £75 million skills package aimed at training more than 12,000 people over the next three years to fill the region’s pressing shortage of construction workers. The initiative seeks to equip residents with the skills needed for roles ranging from carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work to surveying, engineering, and design.
Industry data from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) indicates that the region will require around 4,000 additional construction workers annually to meet demand. The surge in opportunities is being driven by ambitious plans, including the construction of 12,200 new homes per year, a £2.4 billion transport infrastructure programme, flagship projects such as the East Birmingham Sports Quarter, and a £160 million retrofit scheme to improve the energy efficiency of thousands of homes.
Funding for the Mayor’s package will come from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) adult skills budget and a government skills mission fund for construction. The programme is part of a broader ambition to unlock £100 million in skills investment across the region, ensuring that local residents can benefit from career opportunities generated by major development projects.
“We’re heading into a construction boom that will power new jobs, new homes, and new opportunities across the West Midlands,” Mayor Parker said. “But that growth will only last if local people have the skills to deliver it. That’s why I’m backing investment in training and apprenticeships—so people here get the first shot at the good jobs being created, and businesses can draw on local talent with the latest skills and know-how. As we bring investors together at the Regional Investment Summit, this is the message I’ll be taking to them: that the West Midlands is growing its own skills, backing its people, and breaking down all barriers to investment and growth.”
The skills package will focus on hands-on trades such as bricklaying, plastering, painting, and decorating, as well as technical and supporting roles essential to modern construction. Dudley College’s Technical Excellence Hub, one of only ten Colleges of Technical Excellence in the country, will lead the programme. The college’s Construction Apprenticeship Training Centre provides specialist facilities, including carpentry, plastering, and bricklaying workshops, all developed in collaboration with local employers.
Diana Martin, chief executive and principal of Dudley College of Technology, said: “Through our role as the region’s Construction Technical Excellence College, we will work to boost both the range and quality of construction training across the West Midlands. One of our key objectives is to work with employers to leverage further investment in construction skills provision, ensuring the industry builds capacity for the future while maximising the business benefits of large-scale investment today.”
John McKeon, head of Dudley CTEC, added: “We aim to ensure a collective effort from all training providers, sharing best practice and developing a supportive culture across the region. Everyone who goes through our programmes will be fully capable of performing their role effectively.”
Apprentices are already seeing the benefits of the programme. Fiona Watkins, 17, from Wordsley, is in her second year of a Level 2 architectural joinery apprenticeship with Woodcraft Joinery Ltd. She said: “Every day is different. It suits me because I’m more of a hands-on learner. I would encourage everyone to look at apprenticeships—you learn skills while making money, which can set you up for life.”
Jake Fereday, 29, from Halesowen, is completing a Level 3 plumbing and domestic heating apprenticeship with Misad Plumbing and Heating Ltd, aiming to progress onto a Level 4 site supervisor qualification. “I came into this apprenticeship because I can see the potential in this area of work for my future career,” he said. “The benefit is that you get paid while you learn—and there’s always a need for a plumber.”
The skills package will complement existing WMCA initiatives, including the Path 2 Apprenticeship programme and Construction Gateway, supporting both new entrants and upskilling the existing workforce. Employer match-funding and collaboration with national partners such as the Department for Education (DfE) and CITB will play a central role in future phases. The National House Building Council (NHBC) is also exploring the potential to locate one of its training hubs in the West Midlands.
Tim Balcon, CEO of the CITB, said: “The WMCA’s skills package builds on the Government’s £600 million construction skills programme and Technical Excellence Colleges, which will train tens of thousands of future construction workers. This initiative ensures that regional skills provision keeps pace with demand and supports local employment growth.”
Additionally, the WMCA is launching a £10 million Skills Innovation Fund, delivered by Business Growth West Midlands, which will match 50% of employer investment in non-qualification courses, further strengthening the construction and wider skills pipeline.
With the West Midlands construction sector poised for rapid expansion, Mayor Parker’s £75 million training programme promises to equip thousands of residents with the skills and opportunities needed to benefit from the region’s growth while securing a sustainable and capable workforce for the future.
