What help is available?
Industry leaders have been aware of the talent shortage in construction for some time, but the effort to attract Generation-Z to the workforce has been relatively lacking – as has the funding.
In particular, the huge shift towards environmentalism has meant that a lot of SMEs are having to retrain and learn new, ‘green’ skills, and invest in more eco-friendly construction methods to fulfill clients’ requirements. Thankfully, there are some initiatives that SMEs can take advantage of to help attract younger workers to their businesses.
Government apprenticeship schemes
As part of this year’s budget, the government announced £22m to continue the paid incentive program for employers who hire an apprentice before September 30 2021. Under the scheme’s rules, you can apply for new apprentices who joined your organisation to receive £1,000 if they are:
- Aged 16 to 18 years old
- Aged 19 to 24 and have an education, have a health and care plan, or have been in the care of their local authority
This is in addition to the usual incentive payment already…
