NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK: ONE MILLION TRADES NEEDED TO JOIN INDUSTRY IN NEXT DECADE
Posted by: electime 8th February 2024
- The Missing Million – Checkatrade’s UK Trade Skills Index reveals alarming labour shortage threatening construction and trades sector
- Checkatrade’s Tryatrade programme offers young people a route into trade careers
- National Apprenticeship Week taking place until Sunday 11th February
This National Apprenticeship Week (Monday 5th – Sunday 11th February), Checkatrade is calling on prospective trades to join the industry and help to plug its alarming skills gap.
A real threat to the industry’s future stability, a million plumbers, electricians, joiners and other tradespeople are expected to leave in the next 10 years with no one to take their place. Due to a combination of an ageing workforce hitting retirement age, fewer EU workers due to Brexit and an increased output needed to help hit retrofit targets, a pipeline of young talent is needed to keep up with demand.
As a result Checkatrade, launched its “Tryatrade” programme, which gives teachers and career advisers everything they need to help inspire a new generation of young people about the incredible apprentice and career opportunities within the sector. That’s important as research has found that young people will be key to unlocking the potential of the industry, with 244,000 qualified apprentices needed in the next year alone in order to keep up with construction demand across the country.
“Tryatrade” was founded by HomeServe CEO and entrepreneur Richard Harpin in partnership with Checkatrade. Harpin recognises the challenges faced by the UK economy when it comes to finding reliable, skilled tradespeople and is passionate about building a sustainable workforce for the future.
Find out more about Checkatrade’s UK Trade Skills Index and the need for prospective tradespeople here https://www.checkatrade.com.
