Gov’t Axes Construction T-Levels — While Skills Shortages Worsen

The UK government has confirmed it will scrap Construction T Levels after the 2024 intake — despite the construction industry still crying out for skilled workers.

Launched just four years ago as a flagship qualification to give young people hands-on training in trades like bricklaying, the T Levels are now being pulled due to what the Department for Education calls "a lack of demand."

In an official statement, the government admitted the course “provides valuable education and industry experience” but said uptake had been too low to continue. Instead, it claims apprenticeships and other forms of classroom-based learning will better serve the sector.

The decision affects T Levels in Onsite Construction, while other construction-related courses — such as Design, Surveying and Planning and Building Services Engineering — will continue for now.

Meanwhile, industry leaders are warning that the move comes at the worst possible time. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) recently sounded the alarm over severe skills shortages in the sector. It says that to meet the government’s housing targets, around 30,000 new recruits are needed for every 10,000 homes built — across 12 essential trades.

The HBF, along with developers like Barratt Redrow, blames an ageing workforce, Brexit fallout, and a lack of support in schools and training pathways for the crisis. They also say employers are struggling to take on apprentices due to high costs and red tape.

While the government has pointed to £140 million being invested in new “Homebuilding Skills Hubs,” the removal of T Levels leaves a gap in early-stage training for would-be tradespeople — especially those considering bricklaying.