Builder shortage means some are now earning OVER £125,000 a year – but bosses can’t fill positions
A SHORTAGE of brickies means some are now earning more than £125,000 a year.
Building bosses say there are just 70,000 working bricklayers and more need to be trained.
They say if that does not happen, the industry will struggle to meet the government’s targets of building 300,000 houses a year.
Ian Hodgkinson, 59, who runs Derby-based Hodgkinson Builders, said: “There needs to be more emphasis on training here and encouragement to get into the business.
“I started as an apprentice and worked my way up. Now I run around 80 bricklayers.
“Some of the juniors can earn £1,000 a week. The more senior £2,500 a week.”
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Downing Street will relax visa rules for foreign builders.
Our Builder Better Britain campaign, backed by Apprenticeship minister Robert Halfon, hopes to encourage Brits to plug the gaps.
We will build a dream - by Robert Halfon, Minister for Apprenticeships
MANY people, particularly young adults, dream of owning a house and this Government is helping to make that a reality.
We are committed to building 300,000 more homes each year.
Our Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will speed up the planning system.
We are also investing £11.5billion into building genuinely affordable homes.
But we need more skilled people to help get these houses built.
That is why we are working with the construction industry to offer more opportunities to develop skills.
I support the Sun’s campaign to get more brickies through apprenticeships.
Funding to help businesses offer them will rise to £2.7billion up to 2024/25.
There are courses available across the country for in-demand trades.
And from September we will be offering new Higher Technical Qualifications.
We have also introduced three post-GCSE T-level courses in construction.
We know how vital building is for Britain and we are putting schemes in place to continue that proud tradition.