The Government has announced a new apprenticeship programme to help create jobs and growth which needs to be extended to the construction industry.
'The Higher Apprenticeships Fund' will see £25m support up to 10,000 advanced and higher apprenticeships in industries including manufacturing, IT and engineering.

The scheme will promote the development of apprenticeships up to degree equivalent in companies where there is unmet demand for the higher level skills that are crucial for job creation and growth.

Mark Farrar, chief executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, said: 'This new investment in apprenticeships is a welcome boost for the UK industry as a whole but we are calling on government to extend it to cover the construction industry - to help create vital jobs and growth in this sector.

'The construction industry was one of the hardest hit by the recession and there is great demand for higher level apprenticeships for construction workers, especially as the industry changes. Fewer people are going into the construction industry while more are reaching retirement age or leaving as a result of the recession and we need to work hard to attract new blood into the industry so we are ready for the up-turn.'