More funding needed to boost construction jobs for young people, housing boss says

More funding needed to boost construction jobs for young people, housing boss says

Cian Halliday, 26, became a joiner after being made redundant in recent years

A long-term plan, along with extra funding, is needed to create more placements for young people in the construction industry, according to a housing association boss.

Iwan Trefor Jones, chief executive at Adra, said it was vital that organisations collaborated to ensure "that there are opportunities for young people".

Adra has seen demand rise for its academy scheme, with one of its recent openings drawing 108 applicants for just six places.

The Welsh government said work was already under way "to boost construction skills" and that new apprenticeships were due to launch later in the year.

Recent analysis by the Federation of Master Builders found that the construction sector was facing a labour shortfall and needed an extra 2,200 workers a year to meet demand.

Steven Walker, a construction manager with Williams Homes, said it was "really important" that more young people entered the construction industry.

"We have an ageing workforce across the country" he said. "It's really important that young people are being pushed through to be work ready... to be the next generation of construction workers."

He added that there was always space for more workers.

"We can always create the space for young people to come and work on our construction sites.

"We buddy them up with an experienced worker, we show them the ropes, we give them the training, we look after them, we interview them regularly to see that they're OK and that they're looked after."

He said schemes such as Academi Adra give young people practical experience on the job.

"The classroom-based teaching is really important. It prepares them for the work... and then when they come to us, they'll actually put into practice what they've seen in the classroom.

Jones said it was essential that there were enough opportunities available.

"It's really important that organisations like Adra work in partnership with other organisations to make sure there are opportunities for young people."

Iwan Trefor Jones believes that a long-term plan is needed "to support the funding of placements in work, to support young people"

Speaking at one of Adra's developments of over 58 social and affordable homes in Bangor, Jones said more funding was needed to give more young people the chance to enter the sector.

"There's a need for a long-term plan, but also a plan is nothing without the funding behind it," he said.

"We need some kind of assurance that there is a long-term plan to support the funding of placements in work, to support young people into employment and to support employers."

The Academi Adra scheme was launched in 2021 with the aim of giving young people workplace skills and experience, offering construction courses.

Two-hundred-and-thirty participants have been supported since the scheme began, with the latest course attracting 108 applicants for only six places.

Elin Williams, who oversees the work of the Academi, said funding was needed to offer more young people the opportunity to join similar schemes.

She said: "We've been very lucky to be able to have some external grant funding to allow us to run some courses and pay for placement opportunities.

"We're calling for more funding for opportunities and projects like Academi Adra... We want to carry on to develop and expand to meet the rising demand that we're seeing."

They increased to 17% and returned to levels last seen around 2013, according to Welsh government figures.

Cian Halliday, 26, a carpenter from Llanrug, had been made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic, something he said had been "difficult, and a struggle".

"Academi Adra were offering courses, and almost 16 weeks of work experience and at the end they decided to keep me on as a labourer. I did that for a year," he said.

"Then they offered me an apprenticeship and I chose to be a carpenter."

He said being made redundant had been very hard.

"It was difficult, and a struggle to find work, so I decided, the minute this opportunity came up, to start a new job."

While looking for work, Cian said there had not been enough opportunities for young people like him.

"I was happy enough to change careers. I jumped at the opportunity and never looked back," he said.

Daniella Williams, 35 also got into the construction industry after a period of not being in work following an illness.

"I used to work within the NHS. I had problems with my health and I had children, so left that job, and I really wanted to get into an office-based job," she said.

Williams took a course with Academi Adra to move into an administrative role.

"It's changed mine and my children's lives... I've been able to save, I've bought my own car, and it's given me so much more confidence," she said.

"I've been able to achieve so much that I wasn't able to before, and it's inspired my children as well to go on and do bigger and better than myself."

Williams said she was also passionate about inspiring young girls to pursue careers in the construction industry.

"'I work with schools... especially to get girls into construction.

"It's not just bricks and building, there are all kinds of different things. We work a lot with local companies, and it's a great sector to get into, I really enjoy it."

Aled Jones-Griffith, CEO of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, said there had been a "significant growth" in the number of young people taking construction.

He said: "Our enrolment has increased by 28% since 2025-26 to a record 461 learners this year.

"To meet this demand, we have invested significantly in redeveloping our workshops, recruiting additional staff and buying additional course resources.

"However moving forwards, we need additional funding to maintain this high level of provision and effectively minimise Neets in our community."

With demand rising for homes to be built, CHC said opportunities needed to be created to end the "housing emergency".

Clarissa Corbisiero, deputy chief executive at CHC, said: "Investing in our homes is the best investment we can make in Wales' economic health.

"In building 20,000 new social homes over the next four years, housing associations can deliver over 14,000 jobs per year during construction.

"By aligning our housing goals with a bold construction skills strategy, we can turn a national emergency into a wave of opportunity for every community.

"Ending the housing emergency is more than bricks and mortar - it's about health, jobs and opportunity."

The Welsh government said: "We are committed to developing a Welsh skills system fit for the future. Work is already under way to boost construction skills with Level 2 apprenticeships in bricklaying, site carpentry, scaffolding and building maintenance set to launch later this year.

"Construction will also be included in new VCSE qualifications from September 2027.

"A skills audit is currently under way to provide a clear, cross government view of current and future workforce needs across Wales.

"A future Skills Summit is being held this October that will bring together employers, educators, training providers and policymakers to help shape reforms to vocational skills training in Wales."