CITB’s New Entrant Support Team helped 5,913 apprentices join the construction industry during the 2025-26 financial year, new figures show.
The total covers apprenticeship starts across England, Scotland and Wales and is a 43% rise on the previous financial year.
The Construction Industry Training Board said its NEST service also worked with 20,579 employers during the year to discuss apprenticeship recruitment needs.
That is 6,559 more employers than in the previous year, a rise of 47%.
NEST gives employers practical help with recruiting new entrants and apprentices, accessing grants and funding, and providing ongoing support and mentoring once apprentices are in work.
The figures come as construction continues to face a major labour challenge.
CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook says the industry will need more than 47,000 extra workers each year to meet demand by 2029.
For scaffolding and access firms, the issue remains familiar. Many contractors continue to report pressure around recruitment, training capacity and the need to bring younger people into the trade.
CITB said services such as NEST are intended to make apprenticeship recruitment easier for employers, particularly smaller firms that may struggle to navigate funding, training routes and paperwork.
Its Industry Picture 2026 report has warned that construction risks a widening gap between project demand and its ability to deliver if the sector does not change its approach to skills and training.
LC Lucas Construction said NEST had helped the company take on a new apprentice and was now making it consider employing another.
“NEST has allowed us to take on our new apprentice without having the impact of having to pay for the apprenticeship, and it has meant we are now considering employing another one,” the company said.
“The team was a great support to us in among a minefield of information, I didn’t know where to start but they walked me through everything and ‘kept me right’ every step of the way. They simplified the process for me for which I am very grateful.”
Deb Madden, CITB’s Executive Director for Customer Engagement and Operations, said the figures showed the service was making a clear difference for employers.
“It’s great to see our New Entrant Support Team making such a difference and supporting so many employers,” she said.
“NEST helps employers navigate the skills system, making the whole process, from recruitment to retention, easier for employers and new entrants by providing them with practical, hands-on guidance.
“We remain committed to continuing our work in supporting employers to build the resilient and skilled workforce that the construction industry needs.”
