CITB's New Entrant Support Team (NEST) has supported more than 13,500 people to start construction apprenticeships since its launch in September 2022, with a further 5,000 starts expected by the end of the 2026–27 financial year.

The latest update also shows NEST has assisted 7,230 employers and provided support to 3,925 apprentices already in training.

In 2024–25, around 33,000 people began construction apprenticeships across Britain. NEST backed over 4,100 of those starts, accounting for more than 12% of the total.

NEST helps employers to find, recruit and retain apprentices and new entrants, guiding them to access grants and funding while offering ongoing support and employee mentoring.

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With CITB's Construction Workforce Outlook indicating the industry needs over 41,000 additional workers each year, the new figures underline NEST's contribution to addressing skills demand across the sector.

Leanne Land, Head of Regional Engagement, CITB, said: "CITB is here to support employers to take on new entrants, and it's fantastic to see the impact of our New Entrant Support Team. By reducing barriers, supporting recruitment and championing the value of apprenticeships, we can help ensure that more people enter and successfully complete the training that construction and the wider economy will increasingly depend upon.

"It's also vital that we don't solely focus on people starting and completing training, but that they also progress into long-term careers in the industry. We remain committed to continuing our work in supporting employers to build the resilient and skilled workforce that the construction industry needs."