'Fast track' apprentices to help put a rocket under major building projects

Thousands of “fast track” apprenticeships will be created for nuclear power stations, railways and other public projects to speed up delivery.

- Rachel Sylvester

Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, said he had instructed Skills England to sign off new apprenticeship schemes within three months for major infrastructure projects, saying: “Speed is very important. We need to make it much faster to get these courses approved so these projects can get the staff they need.”

About 950,000 16 to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education or training, up from 650,000 in 2021. McFadden said more than 30% of young people on universal credit give sickness as the reason for not working, and 80% of those report a mental health or neurodivergent condition.