CLC co-chair calls for a tax incentive to boost apprenticeships, tool theft cases rise by 16% in 2025, and Hampshire builders pitch in for Southampton DIY SOS project
The co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, Mark Reynolds, has called for a tax incentive to boost apprenticeships.
Speaking to the BBC, Reynolds claimed that of the 140,000 people training in construction each year, half aren’t offered jobs due to low employer confidence and National Insurance challenges.
The Mace chairman proposed an R&D tax credit for employers taking on apprentices, arguing any scheme should boost productivity, rather than just offer financial support.
Reynolds also warned that the industry’s ageing workforce could threaten the government’s housebuilding ambitions, as they retire over the next 10 years.
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Tool theft cases rose by 16% across 26 police forces in 2025, according to data from Everywhen.
In total, the police recorded nearly 31,000 cases, which equates to one reported theft every 17 minutes.
A survey of 2,000 people also found that only 42% relied on insurance to cover the cost of replacing stolen equipment.
A further 15% said they would have to pay the full cost themselves.
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A Hampshire builder who participated in a DIY SOS build in Southampton has described the experience as ‘humbling’.
Karlos Miller, of Vac-Xtract, was one of hundreds of businesses that helped a Southampton family, which was left cooking meals in bedrooms after a disastrous house renovation.
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