Small Business Support

As National Apprenticeship Week (10–16 February 2025) approaches, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) highlights its strong commitment to apprenticeship support. Between April and December 2024, CITB provided apprenticeship grants to over 24,000 learners and nearly 9,000 employers, reinforcing its role in developing the UK’s construction workforce.

A significant portion of this support benefited micro and small businesses, with close to 8,000 employers with fewer than 50 employees receiving funding. This demonstrates the wide-reaching impact of CITB’s apprenticeship grants in helping construction firms of all sizes invest in skilled talent.

CITB has committed nearly £150 million in apprenticeship funding between April 2023 and March 2025, with over £50 million already distributed to employers in the current financial year.

This year’s National Apprenticeship Week theme, ‘Skills for Life,’ is particularly relevant to the construction industry. With more than 180 different occupations and over 100 construction apprenticeship pathways, individuals at any stage of their career can develop lifelong skills and secure a future in the sector.

CITB’s New Entrant Support Team (NEST) has also supported over 3,500 new apprenticeship starts between April to December 2024 – more than doubling the number of new apprentices they’ve helped join the industry compared to the previous period. NEST provides hands-on, free support to help employers recruit apprentices.

Additionally, CITB’s National Construction College (NCC) has seen their overall achievement rate for apprenticeships increase for three years running and is on track to make it four, with achievement rates for 2024-25 poised to reach the 70% target by the end of the financial year. This will be 16% above the national average and, importantly, 92% of people completing their apprenticeships through the NCC stay in the industry, demonstrating the significant impact CITB’s NCC improvement programme has had.

Deb Madden, Executive Director for Nations Engagement at CITB, said: “A career in construction is an incredibly fulfilling one that I encourage everyone to consider. Nothing beats the valuable skills to be learnt, the sense of accomplishment seeing a project completed, and the well-paid roles that are available. There’s a misconception that construction jobs don’t pay well, but this simply isn’t true – the average UK construction worker’s salary is over £44,000, almost £9,000 higher than the average UK salary.

 “It’s fantastic to see the impact CITB’s New Entrant Support Team and National Construction College are having, supporting learners to gain skills for life and employers to grow their business.

 “If you’re interested in pursuing an apprenticeship or hiring an apprentice, I urge you to get in contact with CITB to find out how we can support you.”

Pedddle is committed to supporting and empowering the next generation of British entrepreneurs. As the UK’s leading artisan market and stallholder directory, Pedddle has been a long-time ally of the creative community. With extensive experience working alongside the nation’s entrepreneurs, Pedddle has gained valuable insights into how young creatives can test their ideas and grow their businesses – and markets provide the perfect starting point for them.

Pedddle Founder, Nicki Capewell, reflects on the importance of markets: “Markets have always been a springboard for big ideas and bold dreams. Take Michelle Mone, for example – she started at markets before building her business empire. Or Susie Ma, founder of Tropic Skincare, who once sold skincare at markets before making her way onto The Apprentice. Even Lord Alan Sugar himself began selling at markets! While these markets weren’t necessarily the artisan kind we promote at Pedddle, they still served a vital purpose in helping entrepreneurs showcase their business ideas. All types of markets are crucial for helping British entrepreneurs bring their visions to life.”

Many of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs started with humble market stalls before becoming household names. And market spaces are more than just shopping destinations; they’re entrepreneurial playgrounds where creativity meets commerce, fuelling Britain’s vibrant economy and helping us secure a future for small businesses. Amidst the global economic turmoil we’ve experienced of late, our local market places are more necessary than ever before.

Why Markets Matter

Rebecca Adams, Pedddle’s Marketing Manager, elaborates. “Market places are incubators of innovation; they give entrepreneurs a chance to test what works, whatever kind of product they’re selling. Whether it’s homemade sausage rolls or handmade landshades, they get to see the public’s reaction in real time. Although we live in the age of social media, which can be an incredible selling tool, nothing really replaces getting that in-person feedback you can only get from selling face to face”.

For Rebecca, local markets are chance to promote diversity too. “By empowering artisans and stallholders, we’re not only enriching the market scene but also strengthening Britain’s economic and cultural landscape”. Pedddle is committed to celebrating and supporting grassroots efforts that spark big ideas. Rebecca says, “We welcome everyone, and we have a diverse range of makers and products to demonstrate that. One of our most-used taglines is ‘community over competition’, because we truly believe that businesses and entrepreneurs shouldn’t see one another as competition – there’s enough space for all of us, and we can build on one other’s ideas to create a better future for everyone”.

But exactly how is a market directory like Pedddle able to champion diversity? “More are more people are looking to break to mould and create a better future, whilst also acknowledging tradition. Markets are all about tradition – they’ve been running for literally thousands of years. They’re about community, keeping your money in your local area, to support your neighbours. But modern artisan markets offer a complete experience for everyone involved; music, entertainment, as well as that chance for entrepreneurs to test their products and sales skills. Expressing yourself in a creative way is so important as human beings, and they’re a chance to test those more off-the-wall ideas whilst building a business, so that we can diversify and grow, whilst acknowledging each local community and its traditions”.

“Creativity is the driver behind all entrepreneurship,” says Rebecca. “It inspires people to fill industry gaps and turn problems into solutions. By supporting market communities, we’re ensuring a future where the UK’s creative economy (and its business owners), can thrive.”