Working together to attract talent and develop the home building workforce
We are committed to supporting the home building industry to overcome challenges in attracting talent and developing skills within the workforce, and, in doing so, progressing the culture of the sector.
Home Building Sector Skills Plan
Our Sector Skills Plan sets out a comprehensive, industry-led roadmap for attracting, retaining and training industry's workforce.
The size of the challenge
Increasing housing supply will call for a significant increase in the number of recruits entering our industry. Our analysis highlights to true scale of this challenge.
How we work with our members
Group meetings and committees
We operate several member groups that address workforce challenges, providing a platform for collaboration and solutions.
Contact the Industry Attraction and Skills team
Work with us to shape and strengthen shared solutions to industry challenges.
Current initiatives
Women into Home Building
Our ambitious Women into Home Building initiative supports women to explore leadership careers on site.
Partner a College
Our pilot aims to increase collaboration between home builders and colleges to improve outcomes for further education construction students.
Industry masterclasses
Launched in 2019, our masterclasses initiative has upskilled thousands of tradespeople with fully-funded sessions delivered on sites across the UK.
Home Building Career STEM Ambassadors
Learn more about our ambassador programme, delivered in partnership with STEM Learning and CITB.
Home Building Visitor Card
We developed the Home Build Visitor Card to enable site teams to check visitors have essential health and safety knowledge.
Increasing apprentices in the supply chain
We're working with CITB’s New Entrant Support Team (NEST) and our members to deliver the Home Building Apprenticeship Support Pilot. For more information, contact our team, skills@hbf.co.uk
Mental health and wellbeing training
We offer free wellbeing training to SMEs and the supply chain, delivered by Lighthouse Club Construction Industry Charity.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are working with home builders and their supply chain to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Inspire your future leaders at HBF Future Talent Conference
Our annual Future Talent Conference is designed to bring together the industry's rising stars for a day of insight, knowledge and networking.
Useful resources
Employment engagement resources
View and download our assets to support your engagement activity with schools, parents and prospective talent - and find out how you can help inform future resources.
Home Building Careers website
Our dedicated website supports our work promoting careers in the industry and increasing awareness of the career routes available.
Support employing an apprentice
CITB’s New Entrant Support (NEST) team works with home builders to take care of the process of recruiting an apprenticeship for you and your supply chain – including securing grants.
Go Construct
Go Construct hosts resources and guidance for anybody considering a career in the built environment - including home building.
Heat pump and network courses
Our members can benefit from fully-funded places on the Building Engineering Services Association's (BESA) introductory and advanced courses.
Home building short courses
We developed 16 home building short duration courses with CITB to make it easier to ensure industry employees are trained to a recognised standard.
CITB grants and funding
Registered home builders can receive funding and grants from CITB to cover a range of training, including short courses and apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship guidance for employers in England
Apprentices can be existing or new employees. Read government's guidance on hiring an apprentice and securing funding for apprenticeships.
T-Levels guidance
T-Levels are an alternative to A levels and apprenticeships for 16- to 19-year-olds in England, focusing on technical and practical skills and combining classroom learning and industry work placements.
News and updates
