MEETING AT 10 DOWNING STREET

Annie Summun met today with the Prime Minister's Skills Advisor.

Annie had the opportunity to share the views of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the construction industry with Hannah Cook, the Skills Advisor to Theresa May.

Joining other Master Builders, she was keen to talk about the skills shortage in the industry and the impact that it is having on the ability to meet the government targets for the building of new houses.

So, topics included:

• Current construction skills shortage

• Apprenticeship standards

• Apprenticeship Levy

• The new T-Levels in construction

• Encouraging more women into the industry

• Retraining people from other professions

• The Post Brexit immigration system

• Reform of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)

"It was encouraging that the views of SME construction companies were being heard by government particularly during a time of change", said Annie following the discussions.