This CSMB, which held its first board meeting on 26th June, includes plans to recruit over 100,000 additional construction workers a year by the end of the current parliament.

The CSMB is chaired by Mark Reynolds, co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council.

Five areas are being targeted by the CSMB to drive recruitment, and these are: confidence to employ and invest, clear new entrant pathways, access to provision and support to train, funding that works, and reliable and rewarding careers.

The NFB has welcomed this step, and the “recognition” it demonstrates of issues facing construction careers.

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“The CSMB is a recognition that construction and government must work together to tackle the skills crisis and achieve its growth ambitions,” said Richard Beresford, CEO at the NFB.

“The CSMB’s focus on demand acknowledges that unless the regulatory environment enables work pipelines, existing workforces cannot be sustained, and new workers cannot be added in any serious numbers.”

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight for the NFB and House Builders Association (HBA), said government intervention was needed as many construction trainees leave the industry due to poor job prospects.

He added: “If the government can unlock project certainty and pipelines, particularly for SMEs, not only will we see more workers trained, but more will be taken on as direct employees.

“This means greater job security and clear, long-term career pathways.”