The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has announced a further £2 million investment over the next two years into its Regional Skills Hub Funding initiative, aimed at addressing critical skills shortages across the UK.

This new funding commitment builds upon an initial £1 million investment made in November 2023, which was designed to enhance training provider capacity and increase the number of new entrants into the engineering construction industry (ECI).

The initiative specifically targets six major industrial cluster regions crucial to the UK's decarbonisation efforts: Scotland, the Black Country, the East Coast (Teesside and Humber), North West England, South Wales, and the Solent. The ECITB stated the decision to invest further was driven by the scheme's success to date and the high quality of funding applications received.

Andrew Hockey, ECITB Chief Executive, highlighted the urgency of the investment: "We are delighted with the impact of the Regional Skills Hub Funding initiative."

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He added: "Our Labour Forecasting Tool predicts that the ECI could need thousands of additional workers over the coming years for major projects, including those that contribute to the country’s net zero goals. Without a pipeline of trained, skilled workers all this risks not being achieved, which is why we are keen to work with more clients, contractors, training providers and industry partners to invest in growing the number of skilled workers needed for other major engineering construction projects now and in the future."

Mr Hockey concluded: "This extra investment will help further address skills shortages by enhancing training and assessment infrastructure and capabilities at both colleges and independent training providers located in Britain’s industrial heartlands that will directly increase the flow of trained workers into the industry."

Projects supported by the initial funding round include Humber-based provider CATCH, which received £300,000 in January 2024. This funding supported upgrades to its welding, pipefitting, and electrical training facilities in Stallingborough, near Grimsby, with its enhanced Welding and Pipefitting Hub opening in September 2024 as part of a joint venture aimed at doubling learning capacity over two years.

In October 2024, 3t Training Services was awarded £200,000 to build three mobile training units. Two are already operational, delivering ECITB-approved courses in mechanical fitting, pipefitting, and plating to workers on ECI projects in the North West of England, with potential deployment to other areas facing training provision gaps.

Furthermore, the ECITB collaborated with partners on the Net Zero Teesside cluster project, contributing £478,000 in March 2025 to develop an immersive training rig featuring enhanced pipefitting facilities, responding to growing regional demand for skilled labour.

Further projects supported by the Regional Skills Hub Funding are expected to be announced shortly.