Last month, skills secretary John Denham announced a raft of measures to meet “the challenges of today and the opportunities of the future.” The measures follow discussions between HBF and ConstructionSkills on skills in the current market climate. Denham confirmed the government’s commitment to supporting more than 40,000 apprentices by 2012 and recognised the need for skilled construction workers despite the market instability. In anticipation of this future demand, Denham proposed: <br><br>A new “clearing house” set up jointly with ConstructionSkills to ensure that apprentices at risk of redundancy can be matched with employers seeking staff. The establishment of a new construction task force to advise government on longer term issues such as expanding construction apprenticeships and improving skills levels. The government’s use of government contracts to ensure that firms using them will train and skill more staff. An initiative – Energy Efficiency Employment (EEE) – established with the Department for Works and Pensions and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, that will provide skilled workers made redundant with employment opportunities such as insulating homes. <br>“HBF is pleased that the skills secretary is addressing skills in the context of the current market,” commented HBF’s head of external affairs John Slaughter. …