Construction Sector: Skills Shortage

Debate between Baroness Smith of Malvern and Lord Campbell-Savours

Monday 29th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[The Senior Deputy Speaker (Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede)]

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, is taking part remotely. I invite the noble Lord to speak.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab) [V]]

My Lords, with the increased use of solar technology in construction and with the drop-out among construction and engineering students due to the emphasis on academic skills, could we promote two separate initiatives? The first, as a priority, is viring students into solar-related trades. The second is promoting the use of specialised solar engineers from abroad to train others and clear any backlog that develops in solar fitting programmes. We need to unleash the non-academic but inventive skill set that often lies behind Britain’s successes.

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

My noble friend is right about some of the new areas within construction where we need to support training. I am sure he will be pleased to know that one of the new apprenticeship units that we launched in April, where employers can use their growth and skills levy to fund something other than a full apprenticeship, includes one in solar PV installation. That is an example of how the Government are recognising the changing challenges in construction and supporting it through the growth and skills levy.