This will be supported by a £3bn apprenticeship budget to offer young people skilled work to build affordable homes, care for NHS patients and take up digital roles. This includes an extra 30,000 apprenticeship starts across this Parliament, the government said.
This will include the introduction of 13 Level 2 construction courses for adults in non-devolved areas under the Free Courses for Jobs scheme, and £14m in adult skills funding for construction to be devolved to local mayors for the next academic year. This is expected to support up to 5,000 additional adult learners.
Some £100m will also be made available over four years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps, and 10 Technical Excellence Colleges, which specialise in construction skills, will be opened in September.
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said: “A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive.
“When we invest in skills for young people, we invest in a shared, stronger economic future – creating opportunities as part of our Plan for Change.
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“But everyone has a role to play in a thriving economy, and we’re taking our responsibility seriously, providing more routes into employment; it’s now the responsibility of young people to take them.”
