NHBC welcomes Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ housing growth plans

NHBC welcomes Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ housing growth plans and highlights urgent focus needed on skills to deliver quality growth

“The National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) welcomes the significant ambition presented today by the Chancellor. Getting Britain building again is essential for growth, and as the UK's leading warranty provider for new build homes, we are encouraged to see the government's commitment to removing blockages in the planning system including in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.

“The key to delivering any of this is tackling the chronic skills shortage in construction. We need to see a similar focus on the skills gap as well as planning reform. NHBC is shaking-up house-building training, with its investment of £100m in the launch of 12 new multi-skill training hubs across the UK. These hubs will produce tradespeople who will support the house-building sector’s productivity by delivering quality new homes when and where needed.

“NHBC’s national network of multi-skill hubs will build on our current bricklaying hubs which are already upskilling the existing workforce, as well as a new generation of tradespeople. Their expertise will be at the heart of delivering government’s ambitious 1.5m new homes target. We are already seeing apprentices at the NHBC Training Hub in Cambridge qualifying in 14-18 months, many with distinctions. These tradespeople, who have undertaken our industry-recognised and immersive training are now supporting the local workforce to build on the Chancellor's growth plans for the region.”

Steve Wood, CEO, NHBC