Dedicated courses for post-Grenfell cladders
3B Training has announced plans for a new nationwide programme aimed at upskilling cladding installers and supervisors.
The company, which secured a 萝莉原创 Industry Training Board (CITB) contract to develop and deliver rainscreen fa莽ade systems training in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, has formed a steering group to develop course content, assessments and delivery materials.
The steering group, which includes representatives from two tier-one contractors, a fa莽ade specialist, a trade association and the CITB, is now helping 3B Training to develop course content, assessments and delivery materials.
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of 萝莉原创 Magazine. Sign up online.
A pilot scheme is already open for bookings on the first tranche of courses in 2026.
Under the government鈥檚 remediation acceleration plan, ministers have set a target to remediate all buildings 18m and taller by 2029. Work has now concluded on 90% of the 511 buildings identified with unsafe ACM cladding but between 3,300 and 3,500 dwellings remain to be remediated and local authorities are pursuing enforcement action against owners to speed things up.
3B Training said that the steering group has been meeting regularly and will continue to scrutinise course content against evolving regulation and site practice.
CPA to woo students with stimulating simulator
The 萝莉原创 Plant-hire Association (CPA) has bought a mobile plant simulator to take round schools and colleges.
The new simulator, supplied by Tenstar Simulation, allows users to experience, with realistic controls and 3D motion, what it is like to operate a digger, dumper truck, telehandler or tower crane.
It has three LED screens that provide real-time simulation and can be used with a virtual reality headset to produce a 360-degree view.
The simulator is housed in a bespoke CPA-branded trailer manufactured by Ifor Williams Trailers, allowing it to be transported around the country. The CPA plans to take it to schools, colleges and careers events nationwide to raise awareness on construction plant operations and encourage young people to consider a career as a plant operator.
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of 萝莉原创 Magazine. Sign up online.
CPA chief executive Steve Mulholland said: 鈥淥ur industry offers jobs for life and it鈥檚 really important that we highlight these opportunities to young people before they leave school or college. Unless they have a family connection to the industry, many young people just aren鈥檛 aware of plant operating or other career paths the sector offers.
鈥淭he simulator will help us connect with school children, college students and others, allowing them to use immersive technology to experience what it鈥檚 like to actually drive a piece of plant machinery. It鈥檚 the next best thing to actually sitting in the cab and operating a real machine.
鈥淥ne of the winners from the CPA Stars of the Future Awards 2025 entered the industry as a direct result of trying her hand on a plant simulator at a careers event at her school, so it just shows the huge potential they offer in attracting young people to our industry.鈥�
Dougall Baillie puts faith in graduate apprenticeships
Scottish consulting engineer Dougall Baillie Associates (DBA) has recruited another two civil engineering graduate apprentices for the coming academic year.
This is the sixth year that the East Kilbride firm has chosen to recruit via the graduate apprentice route as an alternative to traditional university-only training.
Its latest recruits are 17-year-old Luke McEwan and 18-year-old Romeo Fisabilillah who will both study civil engineering at the University of Strathclyde.
They will be joined by 16-year-old technician apprentice Elliot Hughes who will go to college in Glasgow.
The new intake joins DBA鈥檚 current graduate apprentices who are in the process of working their way through their degrees while simultaneously gaining real-life experience through paid work with the firm.
Scott Macphail, director, civil engineering at DBA, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to be able to give new opportunities to the young people who have come to us in the hope of building a worthwhile, remunerative and socially useful career.
鈥淥nce again, the apprentice intake is showing the enthusiasm, dedication and determination that suggests they will be another very valuable addition not only to the firm, but to the wider profession.
鈥淩ather than going to university or college full-time, they have chosen to become involved in real-world situations, solving actual problems and facing day-today challenges, while at the same time earning a substantial salary and remaining free of student debt.鈥�
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of 萝莉原创 Magazine. Sign up online.
McEwan, from Cumbernauld, already had unconditional offers from three universities when he came to DBA. Fisabilillah joined DBA after attending a careers fair at school in East Kilbride and impressing the company with his 鈥榝antastic鈥� academic achievements.
Hughes joined DBA straight from school. He will undertake a two-year part-time HNC at the Springburn campus of Glasgow College.
Macphail said that Hughes 鈥渃ould have gone to university, but he had had enough of that kind of learning and he wanted to get a job. He knew exactly what he wanted to do.
鈥淭hese are very talented and committed young people and they give everyone in the firm hope for the future of the profession.鈥�
FMB academy to deliver 鈥榮ite-ready skills鈥�
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has teamed up with the CITB and Shooters Hill Sixth Form college to launch a new construction training academy.
The new Build Academy, on the site of the former St Joseph鈥檚 Convent School in Wanstead, northeast London, offers a 12-month pilot scheme designed to equip young people with practical, hands-on construction skills.鈥�
The FMB estimates that an additional 17,000 construction workers are needed across Greater London and hopes that the academy will help meet this demand. The curriculum has been developed with input from FMB members and industry professionals to align training with sector requirements.
The programme is designed to work with 20 students aged 16-19. The cohort will comprise 20% female students, 10% with educational and health care plans, and 40% from ethnic minority groups.
鈥淭he construction industry is facing an unprecedented skills shortage with too few employers willing to offer apprenticeships to young people,鈥� said FMB chief executive Brian Berry.
鈥淭he newly-created Build Academy sets out to address this problem with a bold new approach to training which involves creating site-ready students for employers to take on as apprentices. By partnering with CITB and Shooters Hill Sixth Form college, the FMB is creating a pipeline of skilled workers who are ready to contribute from day one. This is exactly the kind of innovative thinking our industry needs.鈥�
Annie Summun, chair of the FMB Training Group and national board representative for London, said:鈥�淭raining the next generation is not just important, it鈥檚 essential for the survival of our industry.
鈥淭his academy demonstrates our commitment to creating real opportunities for young people while ensuring our members have access to the skilled workforce they desperately need.
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of 萝莉原创 Magazine. Sign up online.
She added: 鈥淭he hands-on, multi-trade approach is exactly what small builders have
been asking for.鈥�
Record year for demolition skills
The National Demolition Training Group (NDTG) has hailed 2025 as a vintage year for training success with almost 1,500 operatives qualifying for their competence cards.
At least 1,484 Certificate of Competence for Demolition Operatives (CCDO) cards were issued last year, bringing the total number of cards in circulation to 8,775.
More than 3,350 cardholders now have NVQ-level qualifications and a further 428 operatives became qualified last year, said the NDTG.
NDTG鈥檚 work with the prison service has also resulted in an estimated 105 inmates completing their CCDO training last year.
鈥淭he strong results achieved in 2025 demonstrate the momentum behind professional development and underline the crucial role NDTG plays in shaping a competent, future-ready workforce,鈥� said a spokesperson.
Funding opens door to 50 more trainees
Training body the Skills Centre is expanding its West Midlands operations to admit an additional 50 young trainees to its Aston campus by March 2026.
Extra funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority鈥檚 Youth Guarantee Trailblazer scheme has been allocated to enable 18-year-olds from across the West Midlands to enrol on the Skills Centre鈥檚 Path2Apprenticeship programme.
The initiative complements existing training offered by the Skills Centre for 19- to 29-year-olds from Birmingham and Solihull.
The six-week Path2Apprenticeship programme equips learners with practical experience, employer engagement and essential qualifications that directly align to local apprenticeship vacancies in the construction sector. It will cover areas such as:
- Level 1 health & safety in a construction environment
- CITB CSCS green card
- NOCN environmental awareness in the construction industry
- NOCN personal wellbeing in construction
Learners will also gain on-site work experience with local employers, receiving industry insights and careers guidance as well as employability skills to support long-term career development.
Jon Howlin, CEO of The Skills Centre, said: 鈥淭his new funding allows us to open up opportunities for even more young people across the West Midlands. The construction sector needs skilled workers and we鈥檙e proud to be helping young local residents gain the qualifications, confidence and experience they need to build a sustainable career.鈥�
To be eligible for the funding, learners must live in the West Midlands, have been a UK resident for more than three years, be aged 18 as of August 2025 and be unemployed or economically inactive.
The Skills Centre works closely with employers to ensure learners progress directly into apprenticeships and sustainable jobs, helping to address both youth unemployment and the growing demand for skilled workers in the construction industry.
University students get a window on tile production
Nottingham Trent University鈥檚 (NTU鈥檚) School of architecture, design and the built environment has enlisted tile manufacturer Marley to help inspire the next generation of architectural technologists.
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of 萝莉原创 Magazine. Sign up online.
Through a series of student factory visits and the provision of prizes for an end-of-year design competition, Marley is hoping to give the NTU students a proper understanding of commonly-specified building materials, such as those used to create roof tiles, and how they are used.
Vince Conway, senior lecturer in architectural technology at NTU, said: 鈥淲hilst classroom work is the basis by which our students learn and absorb information, exposing them to the reality of the design and product production process gives them a much broader understanding to inform the work they will be involved with in their careers.聽
鈥淢arley kindly agreed to host a visit so our budding architectural technologists could witness production first hand as well as speak with Marley鈥檚 industry experts. The students were very keen on this unique opportunity and got a lot of value from the experience.鈥�
Marley has agreed to hold future NTU student visits in the next academic year, as well as foster a closer relationship to further support student learnings in the architectural technology field.聽
Cadell Beasley, Marley鈥檚 area specification manager for roofing & solar PV said: 鈥淚t was great to see the positive reaction from NTU鈥檚 students who came to visit our site. They were inquisitive and appreciated the chance to see roof tile manufacturing up close for the first time.鈥�
CITB announces surprise cut in training funds
The 萝莉原创 Industry Training Board (CITB) says it is reducing the funding it provides for a range of courses in a bid to prevent training grants outstripping levy income.
CITB announced on 8th December that demand for its services has risen by 36% over the past four years due to the success of initiatives such as employer networks and the New Entrant Support Team (NEST).
Employer networks were introduced in 2022 to simplify access to training and funding for construction employers with CITB funding up to 70% of the cost of the courses.
NEST was introduced two years ago as a free service to help employers find, recruit and retain apprentices.
CITB said that since these initiatives came into effect it has not raised the levy rate and therefore has to support more employers with the same amount of levy.
鈥淐onsequently, at current levels, demand for CITB support will exceed its levy income. Without action, CITB risks being unable to support any of these programmes,鈥� said the official statement.
CITB has therefore announced the following changes to the grants available, taking effect from 8th January 2026:
- Removal of short course training grant, with employer networks as the main replacement funding route and a small number of courses to still be grant-funded;
- The scope of what is funded by employer networks is changing, as well as a reduction of the match funding rate from 70% to 50%;
- Funding for level 7 qualifications and attendance grant from long qualifications will be stopped;
- All non-apprentice achievement grants will be 拢600.
- Further measures, due to come into effect from 1st April 2026, are:
- Removal of large employers to a single large employer funding offer;
- Withdrawal of access to employer networks for large employers.
CITB chief executive Tim Balcon said: 鈥淔irst and foremost, we want to apologise for the short notice for some of these changes. This was done to avoid surge claiming that will put our ability to support employers at risk.
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of 萝莉原创 Magazine. Sign up online.
鈥淲e had planned to transition our funding model gradually, giving employers time to adjust. The pace of demand growth means we need to act faster than we intended 鈥� and faster than we would have liked.
聽鈥淲hile it is good news that there has been an increase in demand for our services, we have maintained the same levy rate. This balanced against the increased demand means it鈥檚 necessary to bring forward changes to ensure we鈥檙e delivering the greatest value for the greatest number of employers.鈥�
Acknowledging that the changes come 鈥渁t a challenging time鈥� for employers, Balcon said that 鈥渨e want to assure you we are here to support you.鈥�
Exeter CTEC outlines plans to boost skills
Exeter College, the southwest region鈥檚 construction technical excellence college (CTEC), has unveiled plans to boost training.
Elements of the plan include working with delivery partners to support colleges and private training providers across the region, facilitating direct engagement with employers to understand challenges and improve collaboration between the education sector and industry and hosting a series of events and conferences focused on knowledge sharing and building partnerships between training providers and industry.
The college outlined its strategy at an event attended by 40 representatives from regional colleges, employer representative bodies (ERBs) and local authorities at its Future Skills Centre in November.
Exeter College was awarded southwest CTEC status by the Department for Education in August 2025. Today, the college offers more than 20 construction-related courses including apprenticeships, T-Levels and full-time programmes serving over 1,500 learners.
John Laramy, principal and chief executive at Exeter College, said: 鈥淢y own career began in the construction industry and I draw on the skills and knowledge that this gave me on an almost daily basis.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so pleased Exeter College has been chosen by the Department for Education to be the southwest鈥檚 CTEC.聽 I can鈥檛 wait for us to work in partnership with education providers and employers to learn from each other, so that we can collectively bring more people into this fantastic industry.鈥�
Drainage training to plug the skills gap
Polypipe, the manufacturer of plumbing and drainage products, has rolled out a suite of training courses to give engineers, designers and specifiers direct experience of working with modern drainage and water-supply systems.
The courses, held at Polypipe鈥檚 training centre in Aylesford, Kent, are intended to provide an introduction to the selection and use of plastic soil and waste, HDPE, MLCP and prefabricated drainage assemblies.
These materials are now commonplace in the construction industry and yet Polypipe says they are still underrepresented in many traditional plumbing and heating courses. Its new training courses are therefore intended to encourage an industry-wide shift in how the sector trains and equips its next generation of plumbers.
聽Through the sessions, Polypipe is helping new and experienced plumbers understand how modern systems are designed, fabricated and installed, giving them the confidence and practical knowledge to step onto site fully prepared for the demands of modern聽 construction Steve Bamforth, Polypipe鈥檚 UK strategic project director, said: 鈥淭he industry is evolving faster than the way we train people. Many trainees come to us highly skilled in traditional methods but unfamiliar with the modern materials and systems they鈥檒l encounter in today鈥檚 projects. Our sessions are designed to bridge that gap and combine real-world application with technical insight.鈥�
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of 萝莉原创 Magazine. Sign up online.
聽Recent sessions at Aylesford have included participants from leading consultancies and education providers including Buro Happold, Foster & Partners, Stantec and Waltham College, says Polypipe.
Higgins seeks aspiring managers
Essex house-builder Higgins Group is inviting applications for places on its 2026 management trainee programme for degree apprenticeships.
For the past couple of years the company has used the degree apprenticeship model as its preferred route for budding business leaders. Participants gain hands-on experience while studying for a fully-funded industry-accredited BSc (Hons) degree that combines academic learning with live project delivery across construction, planning, estimating, technical, bid writing, buying and land.聽
Chief operating officer Dominic Higgins said: 鈥淢any of our senior team began their careers through apprenticeship pathways. This programme gives young people the opportunity to earn while they learn, build confidence on live sites and benefit from mentors across the company. It鈥檚 about building careers that last and shape the future of our industry.鈥�
The Higgins management trainee programme allows participants to rotate through four core departments over the first 15 months of the five-year degree programme, developing skills and insight into the full scope of disciplines that contribute to the company鈥檚 success.
During term time, trainees work a four-day week within the business, with one day each week spent studying at university.
聽A structured mentoring scheme pairs each trainee with a senior member of staff for professional and academic guidance. Trainees also become part of the Higgins management trainee network which meets bi-monthly to share experiences, provide mutual support and gain wider exposure to the business.聽
Refrigeration specialist opens cool new training centre
The UK arm of Swedish M&E manufacturer Beijer Ref has opened a training centre in Glasgow.
The new facility, at 140 St Andrews Road, is equipped with a range of sustainable heating and cooling training rigs with a training room dedicated to renewable technology including CO2 and A2L systems and a heat pump training area covering the latest heating products.
Beijer Ref aims to offer top-level training to engineers across the UK by building on the success of its existing training facilities, which include two air conditioning training centres, an industrial refrigeration academy and an F-Gas/sustainable solutions academy in Wetherby.
Courses available at the Glasgow facility include:
- F-gas category 1
- Introduction to CO2 as a refrigerant
- Installing & commissioning CO2 condensing units
- Basic refrigeration electrics & safe isolation
- Hydrocarbon & flammable refrigerants
- Basic introduction to industrial refrigeration
Altrad opens second centre for temporary works trainees
Formwork and scaffolding specialist Altrad RMDK has opened its second training centre, at the company鈥檚 head office in Aldridge, West Midlands.
The new facility is expected to build on the success of Altrad RMDK鈥檚 first academy, in Skelmersdale, and reinforce the company鈥檚 long-term commitment to improving safety and developing technical skills and practical expertise.
The new Aldridge training academy will serve as a central hub for developing knowledge in the field of above- and below-ground temporary works systems. It is equipped with built training areas, a live demonstration zone and digital resources designed to replicate real-world site environments.
Altrad RMDK managing director Mark Pickard said: 鈥淭he opening of our Aldridge training academy represents the next phase in our investment in people and the future of the industry. By expanding our training offering, we鈥檙e giving our teams and customers the opportunity to strengthen their technical expertise, improve safety standards, and deliver excellence on every project.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a proud moment for everyone at Altrad RMDK as we continue building on the success of the Skelmersdale academy and look ahead to shaping the next generation of construction professionals.鈥�
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