Building Yorkshire’s future workforce starts with skills investment
When we talk about economic growth, we often focus on major investments, infrastructure projects and ambitious targets. Less attention is given to the people who will ultimately deliver them.
Across Yorkshire, employers tell us that finding people with the right skills is becoming increasingly difficult. At the same time, more than one million young people across the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET) – that’s around one in eight 16 to 24-year-olds. Connecting these challenges presents a major opportunity. As investment in housing, infrastructure and the transition to a greener economy gathers pace, ensuring people have the skills employers need will be essential to delivering growth.
Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), alongside regular employer feedback, continue to highlight shortages across sectors including construction, engineering, housing, manufacturing and professional services. Demand is only likely to increase as investment continues in housing delivery, retrofit programmes, transport and utilities. This is why skills development cannot sit on the sidelines of economic policy.
The new government’s commitment to accelerating housebuilding, alongside regional ambitions to increase the supply of affordable and social housing, will only intensify demand for skilled trades. Ambitious housing targets cannot be achieved without a pipeline of electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, engineers and construction professionals equipped to deliver them.
Responding to what employers need
Across our group, which includes Leeds City College, Harrogate College and Keighley College, we work closely with employers to understand where skills gaps exist and how education can help address them.
That is why we have reintroduced apprenticeships in plumbing and electrical installation following consistent employer feedback about recruitment shortages. These trades will be vital to delivering many of the region’s priorities, from building new homes and upgrading existing housing stock to supporting net-zero targets and wider infrastructure improvements.
By creating apprenticeship opportunities in areas where demand already exists, we can help businesses recruit the talent they need while giving more young people a clear route into skilled employment.
We have also reintroduced the Level 2 Business Administration apprenticeship, reinforcing our commitment to creating accessible pathways into work. Before its withdrawal as part of the apprenticeship reforms, it was one of the most popular apprenticeships in England, attracting around 30,000 starts each year, with the majority of learners aged under 19. Many employers and learners lost an important entry-level route into the profession. Its return provides an important first step into the workplace, combining practical experience with the professional skills that employers value.
This is not an isolated case. We are seeing entry-level apprenticeship routes being removed despite clear evidence that apprenticeships are among the most effective ways to help young people move into sustained employment and reduce the risk of becoming NEET.
The wider impact of apprenticeships
Apprenticeships do much more than help employers fill vacancies. They open doors for people from a wide range of backgrounds, support social mobility and allow businesses to develop talent for the long term.
I’ve seen firsthand the difference apprenticeships can make. Take Emily Hawkes, who was taken on by Byworth Boilers as an apprentice welder after studying at Keighley College. Emily challenged outdated perceptions of the engineering sector while developing the specialist skills employers urgently need. Her journey from college into employment shows how apprenticeships create real opportunities for young people, while giving businesses access to the skilled talent they need to grow.
When training is aligned to genuine workforce needs, the benefits extend far beyond the individual apprentice. Businesses gain skilled employees, communities benefit from increased opportunity and local economies become more resilient. Major projects such as the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit system, alongside housing growth, retrofit programmes and wider infrastructure investment, will all require a workforce with the right technical expertise. If we are serious about delivering these ambitions, we must be equally serious about investing in skills.
Working together for Yorkshire’s future
Collaboration between employers, education providers and government will be essential to ensure training remains relevant, responsive and aligned to labour market demand. Initiatives such as the West Yorkshire Promise, which aims to guarantee every young person meaningful work experience before the age of 18 alongside expanded apprenticeship opportunities, are a positive step towards creating clearer pathways into employment.
Ultimately, success should be measured by outcomes: opening up opportunities for individuals, supporting business growth and building the skilled workforce that Yorkshire needs to thrive. We believe that colleges have a central role to play in that mission. By listening to employers, adapting our provision and investing in the skills that matter most, we can help build the workforce Yorkshire needs – not just for today, but for the future.