Many of the roles facing recruitment challenges are in green construction sectors, including retrofit and sustainable building techniques, as well as in traditional trades such as bricklaying, woodwork and fit-out.

However, these already significant figures may be conservative, as they do not account for the multi-billion-pound redevelopment of Devonport Dockyard. Additional major projects, including the renovation of Derriford Hospital, the development of Sherford town, and the construction of 12,000 new city centre homes, are all scheduled for Plymouth over the next five to ten years, potentially driving the demand for more than 4,250 new construction workers by 2027.

As such, construction skills are a high priority for the College, with a particular focus on increasing capacity, broadening the range of courses, and diversifying the offer to meet student demand and improve gender balance in the industry. At the same time, we are committed to supporting employers in upskilling their workforce and recruiting new talent to meet critical retrofit and sustainable construction objectives.

To meet this growing demand, the College has significantly expanded the capacity of high-demand courses such as bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, and electrical installation. We have partnered with Kier Construction to deliver the Hard Hat Ready course, creating clear pathways into the industry, and have continued our collaboration with Building Heroes to support veterans transitioning into construction careers.

In the area of green construction, we launched a Green Construction Skills Bootcamp in 2023, and are planning to expand training from levels 2 to 5.

This expansion will integrate emerging technologies such as drones and robotics to enhance efficiency and innovation in sustainable building practices.