The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has shared updated figures for its New Entrant Support Team (NEST), revealing that, between April and December 2025, NEST supported 4,572 apprenticeship starts, exceeding the 2025-26 final target with three months left to go.
This is 1,040 more than in the previous period from April to December 2024, representing a 30% increase.
CITB’s NEST continues to make recruiting an apprentice far easier for employers by removing the barriers they may face employing and retaining new entrants, particularly apprentices. The new figures from CITB show that, in the April to December 2025 period, 8,054 employers engaged with NEST – up 40% on the previous period in 2024.
In the same period, CITB’s apprenticeship grants supported 25,550 distinct learners – 11% above CITB’s initial target and a 5% increase compared to the same point in the 2024-25 FY. Of the 9,251 employers supported to date in the period from April-December 2025, 8,170 of these are small and micro.
Additionally, from April to December 2025, CITB provided £53.5 million in apprenticeship grants in total to employers – an increase from £50.7 million in the same period the previous year.
CITB’s NEST and apprenticeship grants support across England, Scotland and Wales helps to support employers to recruit and retain apprentices and develop the skills they need.
This National Apprenticeship Week, CITB is encouraging employers to engage in the week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships and skills make to individuals, construction employers and the wider construction industry.
Deb Madden, Executive Director, Customer Engagement and Operations, said: "The industry needs a steady and strong flow of talent to deliver critical infrastructure and support the government to reach its goal of building millions of new homes.
"Our Construction Workforce Outlook report highlights the need for around 47,000 extra workers each year by 2029 to meet current construction demand. NEST is a fundamental way in which we start strengthening the workforce, by providing hands-on, practical support to employers to help with meeting their skills, training and recruitment needs.
"We look forward to continuing the good work of the NEST team and helping employers to recruit and retain apprentices."
