Recommendation 17

We further recommend that Government expand and formalise ‘try-before- you-buy’ training opportunities to improve conversion rates from training into employment. Evidence received indicates that up to 70% of individuals starting construction-related FE qualifications do not complete or do not enter the sector, with FE students often lacking structured opportunities to translate classroom learning into on-site experience. SMEs, which form the backbone of the construction and retrofit supply chain, frequently operate on short-term contracts and cannot absorb the risk of taking on inexperienced trainees without support. We heard clear examples of effective early-exposure models, such as on-site skills hubs, employer- supported placements, and programmes like B4Box and the Vaillant SME apprenticeship initiative, that reduce barriers for both learners and employers. The Government should therefore expand these practical entry pathways across clean heat, low-carbon construction, and retrofit, ensuring funded, flexible, short-duration placements are available nationwide. (Recommendation, Paragraph 76)