House-building apprentices step up as sector faces 239,000 worker shortfall

House-building apprentices from across the UK who are stepping up to help tackle the industry’s growing skills crisis have been honoured today at the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) annual NHBC Apprentice of the Year Awards in Milton Keynes.

As the sector faces a shortfall of more than 239,000 workers by 2029, to keep up with demand and help deliver 1.5 million new homes this Parliament, the ceremony highlighted the new talent entering the industry and the key role apprenticeships are playing in tackling the skills shortage.

Jack Hart, 19, from Ibstock, Leicestershire, trained at NHBC’s Training Hub in Tamworth and was today awarded NHBC Bricklaying Level Three Apprentice of the Year.

Now working on site and supporting future apprentices, Jack said: “I’d recommend an apprenticeship in house building to anyone. It’s a great way to learn and there’s plenty of work out there. Training at an NHBC hub meant I gained the best bricklaying skills, while being taught by industry experts in real site conditions from day one.

“Earning while learning really appealed to me. People are often surprised to hear the average bricklayer earns 50 thousand pounds a year. It’s a pathway to a well-paid and varied career in house building.

“I’m now out on-site bricklaying and I’m also the main point of contact for my company’s future bricklaying apprentices, which I’m really passionate about as I want to support the next generation of house builders.”

The awards come as NHBC continues its £100 million investment in a new national network of 12 new multi-skill apprenticeship training hubs across the UK, which will train 3,000 apprentices each year in key trades including bricklaying, groundworks and site carpentry.

Bailey Johnson, 18, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, trained at NHBC’s Training Hub in Cambridge and was awarded NHBC Bricklaying Level Two Apprentice of the Year.

Having found hands-on learning suited him best, Bailey said: “I’d definitely encourage other people to take up an apprenticeship in house building. I’ve always preferred hands-on work and bricklaying just clicked for me. Training with NHBC meant I was learning in real site conditions from day one, which suited me much more than traditional classroom learning.

“At school, I didn’t do my best sat just in a classroom, but I really enjoyed subjects which were more practical and that’s where I did well. My apprenticeship has built on that. I was learning by doing, working with others and gaining confidence all the time.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in house building. You can earn good money, learn new skills and keep developing. If you’re willing to work hard and stick at it, it can lead to a great career.

Corree Lamb, 22, from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, trained at NHBC’s Training Hub in Tamworth and was named NHBC Groundworks Apprentice of the Year.

Highlighting the opportunities in the sector, Corree said: “I got into groundworks through someone I knew who said it was a good trade to build a career in and they were right. I really enjoy it. It suits me because it’s hands-on.

“At the NHBC Training Hub, you learn from experienced trainers while doing the job yourself, from drainage to slabs and other groundworks. You’re also taught to work to the highest industry standards from the start, which is really important when you’re helping to build people’s dream homes.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in house building. You can learn different trades, meet lots of people and build a long-term career. I want to keep progressing, gain more experience and eventually run my own company.”

Joe Giltrow, 24, from Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, was named NHBC Construction Site Supervisor Apprentice of the Year.

Speaking at today’s ceremony, Darryl Stewart, Head of Commercial at NHBC and responsible for NHBC’s Training Hubs and apprenticeships programme, said: “Congratulations to all our apprentices recognised today. It’s fantastic to see such talent coming into house building at a time when it’s needed more than ever.

“The challenge is clear. We need thousands more skilled tradespeople to build the homes the country needs and apprenticeships are a key part of the solution.

“That’s why NHBC is investing £100 million in a national network of training hubs, training 3,000 apprentices each year in the trades most in demand. Our immersive programmes are getting people site-ready faster, with many qualifying in as little as 14 months, almost twice as fast as traditional routes that can take up to 30 months.”

“But training alone isn’t enough. We also need builders and subcontractors to take on apprentices so they can gain real experience on site. Building just 10,000 homes requires around 2,500 bricklayers, 2,500 groundworkers and 1,000 carpenters, roles that remain among the most in demand.

“By working together, we can help tackle the skills shortage and support the delivery of quality homes.”

Also recognised were Kieran Shearer, 18, from Newcastle upon Tyne, who received a highly commended award for his Bricklaying Level Two apprenticeship and Matthew Stabler, 22, from Workington, Cumbria, who was highly commended in the Construction Site Supervisor category.