Larkfleet Homes is helping to close the industry skills gap

All of us at Larkfleet Homes are committed to working with our subcontractors to recruit and train more people to the highest standards. A skills gap in the building industry in the East Midlands – and nationally – has been identified and we are helping to tackle it ‘head on’.

To ‘put our money where our mouth is’ we have signed up to the Home Building Skills Pledge. This set of five key actions has been developed by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) through its Home Building Skills Partnership to solve a nationwide skills shortage. It also recognises the importance of ‘future-proofing’ workforce skills by developing new ways for people to enter the building industry as well as developing existing talent with the industry.

The Skills Pledge covers five important areas: Collaborate and share; Train to a standard; Engage and support; Champion diversity and inclusion; and Promote careers. By signing up to the Pledge, companies will also be supporting the HBF’s Home Building Skills Partnership and working to its shared goals.

We are delighted to be supporting the Home Building Skills Pledge and being part of the growing momentum for really tackling this crucial agenda. It is vital to nurture the future of the construction industry if we are to build the homes that the country needs.

By signing up to the Pledge we are committing Larkfleet Homes to recruit the best possible talent and to train people to the highest standards. By being proactive in terms of engaging staff, and by being inclusive and diverse in our recruitment, we will be able to future-proof our workforce to continue to deliver high quality new homes.

As part of our commitment to industry and education we are already a major investor in training and skills development as one of the sponsors of the newly-opened Greater Peterborough University Technical College, which aims to give young people ‘hands on’ as well as theoretical training for careers in the engineering and construction sectors.

It’s great to be helping to nurture the future of our industry.