The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has urged the Government to ensure the construction sector plays a central role in delivering its proposed technical education reforms, arguing that builders must be directly involved in shaping the new vocational pathways announced earlier this week.

The comments follow the Government’s plans to introduce technical education alongside core academic subjects for pupils from the age of 14, with the reforms due to be rolled out nationally from September 2028. Under the proposals, schools, colleges, employers and local leaders will work together to provide work experience, employer-led projects and technical qualifications linked to local labour market needs.

In a follow-up response to the announcement, the NFB welcomed the direction of travel but said the success of the reforms will depend on meaningful involvement from construction employers, particularly the small and medium-sized builders responsible for training much of the industry’s future workforce.

Construction must help shape technical pathways

Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders, said the reforms represent a significant shift in how technical careers are viewed.

“Education is about broadening horizons and improving opportunities, the Prime Minister’s decision to offer technical subjects to pupils in conjunction with core subjects does just that.

“The decision dismantles the antiquated educational hierarchy and aligns us with nations such as Germany, Sweden, France and Britain in the 1960s, where education serves to inspire and facilitate career paths.”

The Government has yet to confirm the full range of technical subjects that will be offered, although construction is expected to feature alongside engineering and manufacturing, reflecting the pathways already established through the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate model that inspired the national reforms.

Builders should have a seat at the table

While supporting the reforms, the Federation believes construction employers must play a direct role in developing the curriculum and creating opportunities for young people entering the sector.

Rico Wojtulewicz, Director of Policy and Market Insight at the NFB, said: “The desire to implement this policy by 2028 shows Prime Minister Burnham is determined to tackle the NEET crisis. It is worth noting that changes to health and safety regulations for under 16’s will be needed to ensure there aren’t any workplace access barriers.

“The soft influence of this change cannot be understated, as parents, learners and teachers will begin to view technical education more positively, aligning it with career paths.

“To further cement this shift in how the UK education system is viewed, we hope to convince Andy Burnham that changing the subject ‘Design and Technology’ to ‘Design, Construction and Technology’ would mean children from the age of 11 would start to consider construction, not just buildings, as part of their education pathway.”

“The Federation argues that embedding construction within the curriculum at an earlier stage would help raise awareness of careers across the built environment while strengthening the industry’s long-term talent pipeline.

Reforms aim to tackle youth unemployment and skills shortages

The reforms come as ministers seek to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), while improving links between education and the labour market. The Government has said the changes are designed to place technical education on an equal footing with academic study and create clearer routes into sectors experiencing persistent skills shortages, including construction.

For the construction industry, the NFB believes the reforms offer an opportunity to improve careers guidance, increase employer engagement with schools and encourage more young people to pursue skilled trades, provided builders are fully involved in designing and delivering the new technical pathways.