Prince's Foundation launches traditional Building Craft Apprenticeships

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment has launched a new training initiative to help combat the growing skills shortage in traditional building crafts such as wood, stone, plaster and brickwork.

The new Prince of Wales Building Craft Apprenticeships are aimed at students who have reached NVQ Level 3 in traditional skills such as carpentry, bricklaying and stonemasonry. Each apprentice in the scheme will receive a stipend of £1,000 per month and will complete a nine month apprenticeship programme including business and entrepreneurial skills and two practical work placements. The first apprentices will start their training in Spring 2007

According to the Prince's Foundation, the UK had a shortfall of 6,500 skilled craftworkers in the heritage sector, and around 25% of contractors who worked on heritage projects had unfilled craft vacancies. With demand for traditional skills also increasing in the new build sector, there are concerns that shortages will become increasingly acute unless more people are encouraged to train for and enter this part of the workforce.

Kevin Clancey, Head of Construction Crafts at York College, one of the training centres participating in the scheme, said: "If we think the shortage of craftspeople is frightening now, it will be much worse in five years' time when the next wave of craftspeople retire. The good news is that young people find crafts highly compelling. The Prince of Wales Apprenticeship Programme elevates craft training so that it can take its place beside A-levels as a route for young people."