Managing director of Travis Perkins, Richard Lavin.
TRAVIS PERKINS managing director Richard Lavin has welcomed Government plans to introduce vocational GCSEs, highlighting the need to attract more young people into construction and create clear pathways into rewarding careers.
The Government’s proposed education reforms will give young people the opportunity to study vocational subjects from the age of 14, with Building and Construction among the subjects being considered.
The new qualifications, which could be introduced in some subjects from September 2029, aim to give technical education greater recognition alongside traditional academic subjects, while providing young people with practical experience and a clearer understanding of the career opportunities available.
The announcement comes as the construction industry faces a significant skills shortage with estimates suggesting a potential shortfall of between 200,000 and 750,000 workers by 2030.
Richard Lavin said: “The construction industry is facing a significant skills challenge, so it’s encouraging to see the Government taking steps to introduce young people to the opportunities available in our sector at an earlier age.
“Construction offers fantastic career opportunities, but as an industry we need to do more to show young people what’s possible. Many of our customers have built successful businesses and rewarding careers in the trades, playing a vital role in building homes and supporting communities across the country.
“We know there’s real appetite among young people to build careers in our industry. At Travis Perkins, we received over 900 applications for our Management Trainee Programme, demonstrating just how much interest there is when we create opportunities and show people what a career in construction can offer.
“Introducing vocational GCSEs from the age of 14 is a positive step, but qualifications alone won’t solve the skills shortage. We need to bring learning to life by getting students onto building sites, into builders’ merchants and talking directly to the tradespeople who work in the industry every day.
“As employers, merchants and tradespeople, we all have a responsibility to inspire the next generation and create clear pathways into the industry. The earlier we introduce young people to construction and the breadth of opportunities available, the stronger the pipeline of skilled people we can build for the future.”
See page 13 of our October/November 2026 issue on our Back Issues page.
