NEWS
T he government came under fresh pressure to accelerate action on embodied carbon and the construction skills gap after MPs warned that current plans would fall short of both environmental and housebuilding goals. A new report from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) argued that nature was not a “blocker” to development but essential to building resilient places. It criticised what it called a “lazy narrative” around environmental protections and said the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, now in its final stages, would not deliver the scale of change required. The committee also warned that skills shortages across ecology, planning and construction threatened to derail national housing ambitions. For small builders, the report’s emphasis on retrofit incentives was especially significant. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, who gave oral Cut down carbon, lift up skills
Berry said counting refurbished homes towards housing targets would help the government meet its commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes. He added that the report offered “valuable policy recommendations” at a time when many questioned whether ministers could keep their promises.
evidence to the inquiry, said the UK’s housing stock required urgent attention. He backed the committee’s recommendation to cut VAT on retrofit projects from 20%, arguing it would “significantly boost energy efficiency improvements while supporting local building companies”.
ECITB pathway launched for new entrants
S mall construction firms working in a boost as the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) launched a new Level 2 qualification aimed at bringing fresh entrants into support operative roles. The certificate in Supporting Engineering infrastructure-adjacent sectors were given
grow sharply. Its labour forecasting tool suggested the engineering construction industry could need around 40,000 additional workers by 2030, with demand for support operatives alone rising by 18%. Many of these jobs would be linked to major energy and infrastructure projects underpinning the UK’s net zero goals.
and procedures — skills often needed on sites where SME contractors supply labour and specialist services. ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said the qualification created “a first rung on the ladder” for people considering a career in engineering construction. The board said demand for these roles was set to
Construction Operations would be delivered at colleges or training centres before learners progressed
into the workplace. It covered safe working
practices, preparing tools and materials, basic marking out and shaping, assisting with assembly and dismantling, reinstating work areas, and following documentation
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Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
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