Figures released by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills revealed that there were just 24,000 apprenticeship starts in construction, planning and the built environment in 2011/12 – a decline of 14.6% on the previous year.
The fall in construction apprenticeships comes a week after the government rejected proposals made by the BIS select committee that public sector procurement contracts should require all companies bidding for such work to train apprentices.
Construction union Ucatt voiced fear for the long-term future of the industry.
General secretary Steve Murphy said: “The latest figures for apprenticeships in the construction industry are devastating; the failure to train sufficient numbers of highly skilled workers will create long-term problems for the industry. The short term mind-set of much of the construction industry leads to a failure to invest in apprentices.”
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
