Planning has been approved in Lichfield for a multi-skill apprenticeship training hub, which will shake up house-building training and tackle the construction skills shortage head-on. Part of a planned national network of multi-skill training facilities spearheaded by NHBC, the Lichfield hub is the first to receive planning permission.

The Lichfield Multi-Skill Training Hub, developed by the National House Building Council (NHBC), the UK’s leading new home warranty and insurance provider, will be funded in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), with land provided by Redrow Homes.

The new facility at The Lakes Development, Curborough, is one of 12 hubs planned by NHBC, which is supercharging industry training with a £100 million investment in a national network of multi-skill training hubs across the UK, supporting 3,000 apprentices a year.

CITB is investing £40 million alongside NHBC’s investment to establish up to 32 hubs by 2027 to support the Government’s homebuilding target of 1.5 million new homes.

The NHBC Multi-Skill Training Hub, which is set to open later this year, is the size of two-thirds of a football pitch and costs £1 million. It will provide skilled, site-ready tradespeople faster, giving housebuilding a significant boost locally.

Initially, the NHBC Multi-Skill Training Hub will focus on essential trades like bricklaying, groundwork and site carpentry. The facility is designed to stay flexible, ready to adapt to local housing needs and regulatory requirements, ensuring a flow of qualified tradespeople able to build high quality homes.

As a registered training provider, NHBC’s unique approach means 200 apprentices each year from diverse backgrounds will undergo a programme of immersive training in real site conditions from day one.

Results from NHBC’s single-skill training hubs show apprentices are completing this tailored and industry-leading training in as little as 14 months, with many achieving distinctions. That’s nearly twice as fast as traditional education routes, which can take up to 30 months.

Commenting on the approval of the NHBC Multi-Skill Hub at Lichfield, Roger Morton, Director of Business Change at NHBC, said: “We’re not just training apprentices, we’re shaping the future of UK house building. With 25 years as an officer in the Royal Engineers, I’m driven by navigating challenges and improving quality. The new NHBC Multi-Skill Training Hubs will revolutionise house-building training, tackle the skills shortage head-on and make a real difference to the future of the industry. Our mission is to make sure every apprentice meets NHBC’s industry-leading standards, driving quality and delivering the homes the UK urgently needs, when and where they’re needed. With competitive salaries for qualified tradespeople, NHBC’s Multi-Skill Training Hubs offer a faster, more diverse and rewarding pathway into the house-building industry. Thanks to funding support through the Apprenticeship Levy and generous grants, there’s never been a better time for builders and contractors to invest in taking on apprentices and for people to start a rewarding career in this essential industry.”

Tim Balcon, CEO of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), commented: “The multi-skill training hubs are a fantastic initiative for people that want to pursue a career in home building. We have worked closely with NHBC, government and the home-building industry to develop a programme that is focused on equipping individuals with the skills they need to be productive on site, in the most efficient way. This is truly a collaborative approach and one we are very excited about. People should be proud to pursue a career in construction and home building. There is an array of valuable skills to be learnt, the sense of accomplishment seeing a project completed never fades and it’s a lucrative career too. The average UK construction worker’s salary is over £44,000, nearly £9,000 higher than the average UK salary. We’re excited to see the continued rollout of these hubs following our joint investment with NHBC.”

Marc Cattell, Learning and Development Manager at Redrow Midlands added: “Here at Redrow, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals in the construction and housing industry with our apprenticeship scheme. Redrow is delighted to be able to offer the land for the development of the new NHBC Multi-Skill Training Hub, reflecting our dedication to investing in people, creating opportunities and equipping them with the resources they need to achieve a career in our industry.”

NHBC is currently evaluating other prospective locations for its new multi-skill training hubs across the UK. For more information, visit Apprenticeships | NHBC.