Wales is expanding the routes available to people entering construction as the industry prepares for changing workforce demands across housebuilding, retrofit, energy efficiency and building services.
New and updated qualifications will support eight apprenticeship pathways during 2026 and 2027, covering both traditional construction trades and skills increasingly associated with improving and decarbonising Wales’ buildings.
The changes include new qualifications in bricklaying and site carpentry alongside refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps, with further routes covering scaffolding and building improvement operations also being developed.
The expansion reflects a wider challenge for the construction industry: ensuring Wales has enough people with the right skills to deliver future housing, infrastructure and building improvement programmes while adapting to new technologies and changing environmental requirements.
New Level 2 bricklaying and site carpentry qualifications developed by City & Guilds will support foundation apprenticeship pathways in the two occupations.
Qualifications Wales has also approved a new Level 3 floorcovering qualification from City & Guilds and a Level 3 refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps qualification from EAL. Both are being offered through new apprenticeship frameworks.
Additional apprenticeship routes covering scaffolding, building improvement operations and Level 3 craft qualifications in bricklaying and site carpentry are in development.
Together, the changes are intended to widen the range of occupations available through apprenticeships and provide employers with a broader pipeline of skilled workers.
They could become particularly important as the skills required by construction businesses continue to evolve.
Improving the energy performance of existing homes, installing low-carbon heating technologies and upgrading buildings will require expertise that increasingly sits alongside the traditional trades needed to construct new homes and commercial developments.
For employers, creating clearer apprenticeship routes into these occupations could help businesses develop skills internally rather than relying solely on recruiting experienced workers from an already competitive labour market.
The qualifications have been developed following work involving Qualifications Wales, the Welsh Government, Medr, awarding bodies and industry stakeholders. Awarding bodies have developed the individual qualifications for inclusion within apprenticeship frameworks, with Qualifications Wales reviewing and approving them.
Dean Seabrook, Senior Qualifications Manager at Qualifications Wales, said:
“Construction is vital to Wales' economy, and apprenticeships play an important role in helping people gain the skills employers need. These new high-quality and up-to-date qualifications will support learners to gain and demonstrate the skills needed by employers.
“By approving qualifications for use within apprenticeship frameworks, we can help promote a diverse and inclusive range of routes for learners, learning providers and employers.”
The introduction of foundation routes in occupations including bricklaying and site carpentry is also intended to make construction careers accessible to a wider range of learners, creating progression opportunities into more advanced apprenticeships and skilled employment.
With Wales facing the combined challenge of building new homes, improving its existing housing stock and transitioning towards lower-carbon buildings, developing the workforce capable of delivering that work will be an increasingly important part of the equation.
Further operational information for centres and employers is available on the Qualifications Wales website.
