Government to Set 3% Apprentice Target for Major Public Construction Projects
What happened
The UK government has announced plans to require a minimum 3% apprenticeship target on major public construction and infrastructure projects, according to Construction Enquirer. The move is part of a broader push to use public spending to back British industry and address the construction sector's long-running skills shortage.
The target will apply to large government-funded projects, and a new definition of how contractors and subcontractors are tracked across public supply chains is expected to be published by January 2027.
Separately, the government has also confirmed changes to the wider apprenticeship levy. From 2026, Level 7 (master's level) apprenticeship training will no longer be levy-funded for apprentices aged 22 and above, redirecting funding toward lower-level qualifications — including the trade-level training that construction most needs.
What this means for tradespeople
If you work on public sector jobs — school extensions, council housing, hospital refurbishments, road and rail projects — this target could directly affect how your employer or the main contractor structures their workforce. Expect to see more apprenticeship positions advertised on large sites, and potentially more subcontractors being asked to demonstrate they are training the next generation.
For sole traders and small firms, the direct impact is smaller — a 3% target on a multi-million pound infrastructure project is aimed at tier-one and tier-two contractors. But the broader signal matters: the government is acknowledging that the trades have a skills gap, and it is putting money behind training.
For tradespeople who already take on apprentices, this could mean more funding support and a clearer route to working on public sector contracts. For those thinking about it, the direction of travel is clear — firms that train are the ones the public sector wants to hire.
What to do about it
- If you work on public sector projects, expect apprenticeship requirements to feature more prominently in contract terms from 2027
- If you're considering taking on an apprentice, check the gov.uk apprenticeship funding page — smaller employers can access up to 95% funding for training costs
- If you're a sole trader, this won't change your day-to-day work, but it signals where government spending is heading — toward firms that invest in skills
Source: Construction Enquirer