Yeovil MP joins call for action on apprenticeship shortage in construction sector

Adam Dance MP has joined with representatives from the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) to raise urgent concerns about the national shortage of skilled workers in the plant-hire and construction sector—and the pressing need to invest in apprenticeships at local, regional and national levels.

At a recent meeting in Parliament, Mr Dance met with CPA Chief Executive Steve Mulholland and Peter Brown, Technical & Development Director at the CPA where they discussed the growing skills gap in the industry, which supports more than 44,800 jobs across the UK. The delegation called for better promotion of apprenticeships in schools and improved support for smaller businesses to take on trainees.

Adam Dance MP said:

“This is about securing the future of vital UK industries. Too many young people don’t realise the opportunities available to them in the plant-hire and construction sector—where they can earn while they learn and move quickly into well-paid, highly skilled work.

“Apprenticeships must be seen as a first-choice route into a career, not a backup plan. That’s why I’ll be working with Yeovil College and local employers to explore how we can expand training opportunities and promote them more widely in our schools.

“If we want a thriving local economy and a sustainable construction workforce, we must back apprenticeships—and back the employers who provide them.”

The CPA highlighted the challenges faced by smaller employers in covering costs like transport and insurance for apprentices. While larger companies can often afford to provide vans or subsidise training, smaller firms need more targeted support to recruit and retain young talent.

Steve Mulholland, Chief Executive of the CPA, said:

“We’re pleased to have Adam Dance MP join the call for action—he clearly understands the pressures facing local employers and the vital role apprenticeships play in securing the future of our industry. Construction plant-hire provides young people with high-skilled, well-paid careers, yet too few school-leavers are aware of the potential opportunities.

“At the same time, SMEs are grappling with reduced pipelines of work, rising energy costs, a National Insurance hike and other overheads coming down the line such as changes to inheritance tax and the Employment Rights Bill, that make it harder to have the confidence to take on apprentices.

“If the government is serious about tackling the skills crisis, we need targeted support for SMEs and a major push to promote apprenticeships as a first-choice route in schools, along with support for local and regional training hubs.”

New figures from the House of Commons Library show that in 2023/24 there were 339,600 apprenticeship starts across England—a slight increase on the previous year, but still well below the peak of over 500,000 in 2016/17. The construction sector continues to face difficulties recruiting young people, especially in rural and semi-rural areas like South Somerset.

The CPA is now calling for a renewed focus on employer engagement, better promotion of vocational routes in schools, and stronger support for regional training hubs.

Adam Dance MP is now calling on the Government to deliver focused investment in apprenticeships, more flexible support for employers, and stronger collaboration between schools, colleges and industry.