House building Masterclass series reaches 15,000 delegate milestone

NHBC’s Masterclass series has reached an important milestone, having now provided expert training to more than 15,000 delegates. A Home Builders Federation (HBF) initiative, the Masterclass series offers fully funded training courses delivered by experts in their field covering roofing, bricklaying and dry lining. Aimed at professional tradespeople looking to keep up to date with the latest industry practices, they provide practical skills and improved knowledge to support the delivery of high-quality new homes.

Delivered in 90-minute sessions, the NHBC Masterclass series has been developed to enhance the skills of the home building workforce across England, Wales and Scotland. Led by experienced NHBC building inspectors, they focus on improving quality and standards, promoting good practice on site and offer practical suggestions and advice. Run in partnership with industry leading bodies including the Association of Brickwork Contractors (ABC), the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NRFC) and the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS), the Masterclass series gives attendees the knowledge to get it right first time and reduce on-site remediation.

Part of the Home Building Sector Skills Plan and fully funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the Masterclasses tackle the most common issues found by the NHBC inspection teams. They can be delivered on site, providing training directly to teams while minimising disruption to the working day. Individuals or small teams can also attend open sessions at regional NHBC training hubs around the country.

Geoff Mann, Qualifications Manager at NHBC commented, “I’m hugely proud that we’ve reached this impressive milestone. The Masterclass series has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and we’ve been pleased to expand the range of courses on offer. By partnering with respected industry bodies and organisations like the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), together we’ve been able to upskill 15,000 tradespeople, helping the UK construction industry build much-needed quality homes.”

Andy George, Director of Industry Attraction and Skills at the Home Builders Federation, said: “The Masterclasses are a key programme within the Home Building Sector Skills plan, providing vital learning to upskill our existing workforce. We are proud of our collaboration with NHBC in developing these Masterclasses – their success shows what an effective, sector-wide partnership can deliver and is a clear example of the home building industry stepping up to lead the skills agenda. Since launching in 2019 around 2,000 bricklaying, roofing and drylining masterclasses have been delivered across home building sites in England, Wales and Scotland. As industry works towards meeting Government housing ambitions, investment in our workforce will be fundamental – making programmes like this all the more essential.”