Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Construction Skills Training

Monday 28 April 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mark Ferguson visited Gateshead college to discuss construction apprenticeships and flexible learning opportunities.
  • Jess Brown-Fuller highlighted concerns about a loophole in the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 regarding construction skills training.
  • The government announced a capital pot for employer-led and match-funded projects to support construction programmes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Ferguson Lab Gateshead Central and Whickham
Education Economy Employment Transport
Context

The MP referenced a major investment plan for central Gateshead, including £1.2 billion of inward investment and the creation of 15,000 construction jobs over several decades.

Question

Our plans for the renewal of central Gateshead are by far the most exciting investment opportunity in north-east England, with £1.2 billion of inward investment, thousands of new homes and public transport infrastructure, meaning 15,000 construction jobs over the next few decades. Gateshead college, right at the heart of the development zone, is rapidly increasing places on its superb construction course, but much more is needed. Will the Secretary of State meet me and Gateshead college to discuss super-charging construction skills to deliver our plan for growth?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

I have visited Gateshead college to see the fantastic work it does on digital skills, but I know that it has also developed innovative, flexible apprenticeships for careers in building design and construction, which I hope can be replicated elsewhere. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend and perhaps to visit Gateshead college to learn more about what it is doing on construction.

Answered
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Q2 Jess Brown-Fuller Lib Dem Chichester
Education
Context

The MP highlighted concerns raised by Chichester college regarding a loophole in the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 that prevents further education colleges from obtaining public investment.

Question

Further education colleges such as Chichester college in my constituency are vital to the delivery of construction apprenticeships and skills training. Many colleges, however, have raised a concern with me that a loophole in the last Government’s Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, which brought colleges back into the public sector, means that they cannot go out and get public investment into their colleges. What is the Minister doing to address their concerns and ensure that FE colleges can invest in the facilities and courses needed to train our future construction workforce?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

The hon. Lady raises an important point about that reclassification. Through the construction announcement we made ahead of the spring statement, we created a capital pot for employer-led and match-funded projects to ensure that we are really working to deliver some of the programmes that are needed. We are also investing more in further education—again through boosting teaching in this area—and making sure that young people have access to industry placements, which we know are crucial in making sure that they succeed, especially in areas like construction.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address the specific loophole issue raised by the MP and instead spoke about general investments in further education and apprenticeships.

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