The government is to roll out a major package to break down barriers stopping access to technical education, training, and apprenticeships.
Through new financial support, more college places and greater access to apprenticeships, the package will help more young people develop the skills local employers need, connect to the technical pathways being created in their area, and access the opportunities needed to build successful careers.
The measures form part of the Prime Minister’s wider mission to strengthen the link between education and work, ensuring no young person is left behind because they lack the opportunities, skills, or support to succeed.
Building on the wider reforms giving 14-year-olds greater access to technical learning and meaningful work experience, these changes will help more young people aged 16 to 19 continue developing practical skills and real-world experience as they move into the next stage of education and training.
A new bursary, worth up to £4,500 per year per household, will remove a barrier that can otherwise discourage young people from taking up an apprenticeship, helping them build the skills and independence that lead to long-term, well-paid work.
Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “Education is about broadening horizons and improving opportunities, the Prime Minister’s decision to offer technical subjects to pupils in conjunction with core subjects does just that.
“The decision dismantles the antiquated educational hierarchy and aligns us with nations such as Germany, Sweden, France and Britain in the 1960’s, where education serves to inspire and facilitate careers paths.”
Rico Wojtulewicz, Director of Policy and Market Insight, said: “The desire to implement this policy by 2028 shows Prime Minister Burnham is determined to tackle the NEET crisis. It is worth noting that changes to health and safety regulations for under 16’s will be needed to ensure there aren’t any workplace access barriers.
“The soft influence of this change cannot be understated, as parents, learners and teachers will begin to view technical education more positively, aligning it with career paths. To further cement this shift in how the UK education system is viewed, we hope to convince Andy Burnham that changing the subject ‘Design and Technology’ to ‘Design, Construction and Technology’ would mean children from the age of 11 would start to consider construction, not just buildings, as part of their education pathway.”
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: "Vocational and technical roles have long been treated as a career of last resort. Today's announcement is an important recognition that construction and other skilled trades deserve to be valued every bit as highly as traditional academic routes. If we are serious about tackling youth unemployment and delivering the skilled workforce the country needs, we must give young people clearer pathways into rewarding careers in construction.
"We particularly welcome the commitment to link technical education more closely to local labour market needs, but builders must not be forgotten in this mix. Builders do not exist in pockets, like manufacturing, but are a nationwide network. Small builders train a large proportion of the construction workforce and have first-hand knowledge of the skills their communities require. Builders must be given a seat at the table as these reforms are developed. They will be instrumental in providing work experience, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, and their expertise will be crucial to ensuring that training meets the needs of both learners and industry.”
Ruth Scarrott, NFRC Head of Careers, said that anything that gets roofing and construction in front of young people earlier, and treats technical education as equal to the academic route, is a step in the right direction.
“Our Members continually tell us that finding skilled people is one of their biggest challenges,” she explained.
"We do need to see more detail on how this will work in practice. There's a real opportunity here to build on established programmes, like Local Skills Improvement Plans, rather than creating something parallel that competes for the same employers' time and attention.
"It's also vital that schools are supported to work with smaller, local construction firms, not just the large national employers who tend to have dedicated resource for this kind of engagement. Most of our members are SMEs, and they're often the ones best placed to offer a young person a genuine route into the trade in their own community. But a small contractor with a handful of staff can't always give the same time to school visits and work placements that a large employer can, so any new system needs to make it straightforward and low-burden for them to get involved."
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) supports the UK Government’s plans to give young people in England access to high-quality technical education, workplace experience and stronger connections with employers from the age of 14.
RICS CEO, Justin Young, said: “According to the ONS, youth unemployment stands at 16.4%, its highest level in eleven years. Giving young people earlier access to high-quality technical learning, meaningful work experience and direct contact with employers is a positive and necessary step that can help reverse this trend over time.
“Surveyors are central to planning, costing, valuing, constructing and maintaining the homes, workplaces and infrastructure on which every community depends. Yet too many young people reach important education decisions without understanding what surveying is, the breadth of careers it offers, or the routes available to enter the profession. RICS qualifications are globally recognised and open up the world to professionals holding them.
“Provisional findings from this year’s RICS skills survey tell us that more than half of respondents believe the skills shortage is having a real impact on the profession. Initiatives like this will help to reduce these concerns by improving opportunities to enter the built environment, whether through apprenticeships, further or higher education, or other recognised pathways into surveying.
“For these reforms to succeed, schools and colleges will need sustained resources, teachers will need appropriate support, and technical courses must be developed with employers and professional bodies while meeting clear and consistent quality standards. RICS can contribute its expertise in surveying standards, education, careers guidance and professional progression to help turn these pathways into credible routes to a rewarding career.”
Phil Scott, Vice President of Technology Delivery, NBS part of Hubexo: “This announcement is long overdue. Over a million 16-24-year-olds are currently outside education, employment or training, and construction is one of the sectors best positioned to welcome that talent, if we start engaging young people early and give them the right tools and experience.
“I started at NBS as an apprentice. That early, hands-on exposure to how the construction industry actually works shaped everything that followed. You can't replicate that in a classroom alone.
“At NBS, we work with universities and professional development programmes putting industry-standard specification tools in front of the next generation of architects, engineers and designers, through NBS Chorus, using live product data from day one. Young people enter the industry with practical skills, not just qualifications.
“Back in 2022, our research found that 56% of 18-29-year-olds saw construction as an attractive career. The interest was there. Getting young people connected to real workflows, real product data and real employers isn't a nice-to-have. It's how you close a skills gap that's been widening for years and the sector can't afford to miss it again.”
