PfP Thrive, the University of Cambridge and housing construction leaders unite to tackle the housing crisis through skills training

A consortium of industry leaders gathered for an online webinar today to discuss the UK’s housing crisis and how it can be addressed by tackling the skills gap.  

Speakers included Tom Arey, Director at PfP Thrive which is part of Places for People; Dr Hannah Holmes from the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research; Mushtaq Khan, Chief Executive of the Housing Diversity Network; Debansu Das, Business Development Director at Zed Pods; and Alison Nicholl, Head of Constructing Excellence at the Building Research Establishment.  

The timely webinar took place just a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans for a £600 million package to support construction skills training. Tom Arey, Director of PfP Thrive – an organisation driving forward the skills agenda across the UK through offers of apprenticeships, short courses, and organisational development products – said: 

“The housing crisis is a complex challenge. Beyond systemic responses to financing and planning, we need to ensure that we have a skilled workforce with capability and capacity to support the Government’s 1.5 million homes target. At the same time, addressing the skills shortage isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about securing fair, stable futures for individuals and communities.”  

Dr Hannah Holmes from the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research echoed Tom’s comments, referencing her institution’s 2024 research paper which unpacked significant skills gaps in the construction and building trades. She said: “The UK trades skills gap is growing, particularly in areas like plumbing, brickwork, and carpentry. Our research found it’s not just about trade skills either – with personal skills such as managing offsite construction and stakeholder relationships also in short supply.”  

“We also found cultural issues, such as a lack of diversity which can lead to racism or discrimination against LGBT workers in the sector. There’s gender inequality too, with around 90% of those starting apprenticeships in construction being male. That means we need way more than formal training and qualifications – we also need to improve diversity through support networks and greater flexibility.”  

Mushtaq Khan, Chief Executive of the Housing Diversity Network, reiterated the importance of representation: “Diversity matters, but under-representation in the sector can be off-putting for those looking to move into construction. There’s a lack of networks, confidence, and a whole cohort of people we could empower with the right support systems.”  His presentation was a reminder that the sector is depriving itself of a wider talent pool if it does not prioritise diversity. 

Debansu Das of Zed Pods showed everyone the merits of pursuing diversity. One of his insights was that: “Offsite construction helps to attract a diverse workforce as people can work in more controlled, safer, and inclusive environments, making the industry more appealing to individuals from various backgrounds, including women and underrepresented groups.” 

His day-to-day work also sees him being involved in the Prisoners Building Homes programme, a national pilot involving different government agencies. Beyond helping deliver homes we need, he shared cost savings from preventing recidivism, as well as the low re-offending rates from the programme. His presentation concluded with different recommendations to strengthen the labour market in construction, showing several different but promising directions of travel. 

The speakers also highlighted the challenge of an ageing workforce in housing and construction, with around one-fifth of the sector aged over 55. Alison Nicholl from the Building Research Establishment addressed the broader societal impact of the sector and the need to prioritise sustainable practices: “We must remember that our housing and construction sectors have a huge impact on the environment. We have a significant opportunity here to train the right people and create an industry that does things differently – pioneering new materials and sustainable methods.”  

The principle of sustainability also extends to retaining talent on top of attracting it, as Alison highlighted the importance of ensuring that people recruited from diverse backgrounds being made to feel comfortable in the sector. 

Dr Gemma Burgess from the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research rounded up by noting the common emphasis placed on diversity. “In order to have a repair, maintenance, construction workforce that can meet the needs of the housing sector, seeking to increase diversity is not just a good thing to do in itself, but a crucial part of how to address the skill shortage and the challenges posed by the ageing workforce. To future proof the sector, it’s clear today that there's a need to look outside of the usual places for recruitment and for there to be both more training and retraining opportunities – not just new skills and not just core trade skills, but a focus on those soft skills such as customer and colleague engagement.” 

Noting the possibilities of potential collaboration and working together, the webinar concluded with a call to action from the panel, urging policymakers, industry leaders, and training providers to collaborate in tackling the skills gap.