Construction firms working on school and college buildings will be forced to offer apprenticeships and T Level placement opportunities to students to work on site, the government has said.
A press release from the Department for Education stated today that as part of its upcoming education estates strategy, construction firms working on building projects will “have to show that they are providing opportunities for apprentices and T Level students”.
The DfE said that its national construction framework contracts, approved in December 2025, require two skills opportunity places for every £3 million spent.
The government estimates that the policy will create 13,000 new apprenticeship and T Level placement opportunities by 2028. It said 90 per cent of these opportunities will be offered within a “30-mile radius of a school being built, providing a boost to local communities across the country”.
Bids are also now open for funding for new college building projects via post-16 capacity funding, FE Week understands.
Skills minister Jacqui Smith said: “We can’t rebuild schools that are fit for the future unless we have the skilled workers we need to build them.
“Our education estates strategy will set out our vision for school and college buildings to deliver growth and opportunity to their local communities, backed by our plan for a decade of national renewal.
“This government is leading by example, creating incredible opportunities for our young people by championing apprenticeships and T Levels in our school and college building projects.”
Capital funding available for post-16 capacity is understood to total £375 million between this year and 2029-30.
The government has also announced plans to allocate £283 million to metro mayors and local leaders to “boost capacity” in colleges in their areas.
The £20 billion schools rebuilding programme, funded until 2034-35, aims to replace over 750 schools and sixth-form colleges across England.
A full education estates strategy is due to be published later this week.
I applaud this – but- this isn’t the first time we’ve stipulated, mandated, contracted, forced companies to employ apprentices when undertaking government contracts but these have never followed through with notable success for the apprentices.
Construction apprenticeships, even in large companies with multiple large contracts can be difficult to manage and often requires an apprentice to travel across multiple sites to gain the relevant experience and skill, making it difficult for all candidates to achieve.
There is a need to train more people in construction trades but if we’re doing this – again – it’s time to clearly manage and monitor all 13000 and track their journey from enrolment to achievement.
Let’s but some effort into seeing this through instead of it being a NAW announcement that fizzles’ out over the coming weeks!
This has been the case for years – social value contracting requirements but the commissioners never get the contractors to follow what they commit to do.
It’s hollow words as Noel says, been in the system for years.
Doesn’t help that on a similar vein – unitary authorities commission providers to deliver for instance boot camps who have no presence in their region – doesn’t create any jobs at all.