£2 million has been committed to a scheme operated by the CITB which aims to target the skills shortages in London by getting 500 unemployed construction workers back into work.

The new scheme is going to provide training as well as work based placements so unemployed construction workers in a location that the CITB estimates will need an additional 1,900 construction workers each year until 2019 at the earliest in order the existing order book is fulfilled.

It’s estimated that there will need to be around 6,500 new construction workers operating in and around the capital over the next five years.

Although the big announcement is about getting 500 unemployed construction workers back into jobs, the scheme also offers options for 700 workers from smaller construction companies develop more specialist skillsets and will look into ways in which co-operatives between small construction businesses can be created.

CITB sector strategy manager for Greater London Janette Welton-Pai went on to say: “It’s an ambitious and unique programme but most importantly it implements a new approach to addressing skills and training needs.

“We have been using intelligence from both organisations to help identify the region’s specific requirements and closely map out local priority needs.

“One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to skills and it’s particularly important in the current climate to ensure that any training or up-skilling undertaken is relevant and purposeful.”

The Chair of the London Enterprise Panel is London Mayor, Boris Johnson who commented: “Cranes can be seen on the skyline of every corner of the capital and the construction industry needs thousands of new workers every year to keep pace with demand.

“It is a fantastic time to start work in that sector and we intend that this scheme will help provide Londoners with all the necessary skills to do so.”