You might not notice when walking past a construction site, but the UK is facing a major shortage of skilled workers - especially in civil engineering. These are the people who help design, build and maintain things like roads, bridges and drainage systems. In just the last couple of years, the number of vacancies for civil engineers has nearly doubled.
To help fix the problem, the Government has announced a big funding boost - £10m will be invested over the next three years to help improve training and support new people coming into the industry. There's also an additional £625m planned to help with hiring more workers as the UK aims to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
This investment is a step in the right direction, but the industry experts say more needs to be done. Schools, Colleges and Universities are struggling to keep up with demand. Plus, many businesses want to see long-term funding commitments, not just quick fixes.
In short, the construction industry is growing, but we need more hands-on deck. These new funds could help bring in the next generation of engineers to keep the country building.