A major boost to Cambridgeshire’s construction sector is on the way after planning permission was granted for a new multi-skill apprenticeship training hub in Northstowe. The state-of-the-art facility—backed by a £100 million national investment from the National House Building Council (NHBC)—is set to train 200 apprentices a year and help tackle the region’s growing shortage of skilled trades.
The NHBC Training Hub, Northstowe, will form part of a new UK-wide network of 12 hubs designed to fast-track talent into housebuilding at a scale never seen before.
Together, the hubs will train 3,000 apprentices annually in the trades most needed to build the homes of the future. With industry forecasts indicating the UK will need an extra 251,500 construction workers by 2028, the investment arrives at a crucial moment.
The new Cambridgeshire facility, expected to open in early 2026, will be built in partnership with top 10 housebuilder Keepmoat, with land and support provided by Homes England.
Located on Rampton Road, the hub will cover an area roughly two-thirds the size of a football pitch and deliver “site-ready” apprentices trained in real construction conditions from day one.
The programme has won high-level backing, including from the Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith, who welcomed the approval and praised NHBC’s “innovative model”.
“This government is committed to creating opportunities for people across the country to access well-paid jobs in vital sectors like construction, and NHBC’s excellent new training hubs are helping to deliver exactly that,” she said.
“Their innovative model will prepare apprentices at the pace and scale we need to tackle the construction skills shortage and deliver our ambitious target of 1.5 million new homes this Parliament.
“These hubs will equip local people with high-quality skills and rewarding careers, whilst building the communities of the future and supporting our economic growth mission.”
Fast, immersive training to raise standards
The Northstowe hub will initially focus on three essential trades—bricklaying, groundworks and site carpentry—which together will make up around 80% of its use.
It will also host upskilling programmes for the existing workforce, skills bootcamps, traineeships, school visits and specialist masterclasses to help attract a broader range of people into construction.
NHBC says its accelerated model is already proving its impact. Apprentices at its existing hubs are completing their programmes in as little as 14 months—nearly twice as fast as many traditional routes—and many are achieving distinctions.
Roger Morton, NHBC’s Director of Business Change, said the new facility represents far more than an apprenticeship centre. “We’re not just training apprentices, we’re raising the standard for the whole house-building industry,” he said.
“Our new hub at Northstowe, along with 11 others planned across the UK, will deliver quality training at scale in a way the industry has never seen before.”
Morton also highlighted the potential unlocked by the Chancellor’s recent Budget announcement, which will make apprenticeship training free for under-25s hired by small and medium-sized builders.
“Cost, time and uncertainty have held many builders back,” he said. “With free training and NHBC’s real-site hubs—where apprentices reach top industry standards in as little as 14 to 18 months—builders can take on new recruits with confidence.”
A major boost for Northstowe’s growth
As one of the UK’s largest and fastest-growing new towns, Northstowe continues to expand, with phases two and three—delivered by Homes England—now well underway.
Homes England says the new Training Hub will help accelerate high-quality housebuilding across the development while giving local people access to valuable career pathways.
Alison Crofton, Chief Property Officer at Homes England, said the hub “bridges the gap between construction skills development and housing delivery” at a critical moment.
“The hub will fast-track hundreds of apprentices into high-quality, site-ready roles, enabling meaningful training for local people and supporting a skilled workforce that can continue to build the future of Cambridgeshire.”
Keepmoat, which is delivering the building itself, echoed that sentiment.
Tim Wray, the company’s Group Land and Partnerships Director, said: “Working with NHBC on initiatives such as this is critical to ensure the future workforce is equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver high-quality, affordable homes and sustainable communities.”
Part of a national skills mission
NHBC is continuing to evaluate further sites across the UK for the remaining hubs in its network. The programme forms a key part of the Home Builders Federation’s Sector Skills Plan and is expected to play a central role in making the Government’s home-building ambitions deliverable.
