‘Partner a College’ programme unites home builders and colleges

​​​​​​​The programme aims to bridge the gap between education and employment and ensure students gain the practical, job-ready skills the industry needs

A national initiative is launching to transform how young people enter the construction industry.

The Partner a College programme, developed by the Home Builders Federation, has confirmed the colleges and builders that will form the two-year pilot.

The programme aims to bridge the gap between education and employment and ensure students gain the practical, job-ready skills the industry needs.

Currently, less than 40% of construction students in FE enter the sector, and many employers, particularly smaller firms, struggle to navigate an overly complex education and apprenticeship system.

Designed to close the gap, the Partner a College programme's collaborative model aligns curriculum content with real-world site demands, ensuring students gain the practical, job-ready skills employers need.

By bringing industry directly into the classroom, Partner a College is helping colleges deliver training that mirrors the pace, standards, and expectations of modern building sites.

Participating home builders will work with educators to shape course content, provide classroom and workshop support, host site visits, and offer work placements that give students first-hand exposure to the sector.

Ten further education colleges from across England have been selected to participate, including Oaklands College, Loughborough College/SMB College Group, Hugh Baird College, Preston College, Moulton College, York College, West Suffolk College, Moreton Morrell College, Walsall College, and Nottingham College.

These colleges will work in close partnership with a diverse group of home builders, ranging from national developers to regionally focused SMEs and suppliers, spread across the country.

Barratt Redrow, Keepmoat, Anwyl Homes, The Hill Group, Untypical, Davidson Homes, The Tara Group, Taylor Wimpey, Wienerberger, and Ibstock Plc have signed up as partners.

Funded by the Construction Industry Training Board, the programme forms a key pillar of HBF’s newly-launched Home Building Sector Skills Plan, which sets out a coordinated approach for the home building industry to develop a more resilient and inclusive workforce.

This programme exemplifies how industry, education, and government can collaborate to deliver change, alongside initiatives such as employer-led masterclasses, NHBC Multi Skill Hubs, and the Women into Home Building programme.