In a bid to address the UK’s critical skills shortage faced by the masonry sector, Grayson – a leading supplier of construction consumables – is proud to announce its funding partnership with Site Ready Solutions, an innovative organisation working to reshape how the construction industry attracts, prepares, and supports new talent entering the trade.
The UK construction industry is facing a significant labour shortage, with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimating a need for 251,500 additional workers by 2028 (an average of 47,860 new workers each year) the industry faces an urgent need to expand its skilled workforce. Working in close collaboration with leading organisations including CITB, The National House Building Council (NHBC) and the Home Builders Federation, Grayson has become the very first private business to invest financially in this forward-thinking entry-level initiative.
Site Ready Solutions plays a vital role in coordinating and enabling robust pre-apprenticeship pathways into bricklaying. The organisation brings together employers, training centres, trade bodies and local stakeholders to remove barriers to entry, streamline the onboarding process for recruits and ensure long-term workforce development.
Unlike standard models, Site Ready Solutions facilitates a 14-week Bricklaying Pre-Apprenticeship Programme, delivered in partnership with accredited training centres and real-world employers. The programme includes an initial two-week immersive bootcamp, followed by a 12-week structured employer placement. Site Ready Solutions ensures both learners and host companies are supported throughout, offering a framework for training, mentoring and progression that fits the unique needs of small, medium and micro businesses.
At the heart of Site Ready Solutions’ impact is its five-pillar framework: Attract, Train, Place, Retain and Influence. This model ensures that every stage of the talent pipeline, from engaging young people to shaping industry policy, is covered with a collaborative, employer-led approach.
“This partnership is about more than just training – it’s about building a workforce that’s ready, resilient and reflective of the future of construction,” said Garry Staines, Co-Founder of Site Ready Solutions. “Grayson’s support allows us to reach more learners and employers, and proves that forward-thinking businesses can play a leading role in shaping the industry’s future.”
Crucially, Site Ready Solutions provides on-site implementation support, helping employers develop structured team-based models for mentoring and upskilling new entrants. This helps address long-standing barriers that prevent small employers from taking on apprentices, particularly in traditional gang-based site structures. The approach directly tackles the high dropout rates seen in conventional bricklaying apprenticeships by ensuring learners are better prepared and better supported from the outset.
“Our goal has always been to remove the friction between talent and opportunity,” added Keith Lilliott, Co-Founder of Site Ready Solutions. “We’re proud to work with a company like Grayson that shares our belief in practical, meaningful solutions. This investment helps us deliver real change for learners, employers and the wider industry.”
As an employee-owned trust, Grayson has a deeply rooted tradition of reinvesting a substantial proportion of its profits back into the construction trades and communities it serves. The company’s directors, managers and employees are united by a shared understanding: without a steady pipeline of high-quality tradespeople entering the masonry workforce, the skilled trades they passionately support risk erosion and potential disappearance.
“We know that the future of masonry depends on the people coming through today,” says Tony Higson, Grayson’s Managing Director. “Investing in Site Ready Solutions means investing in real opportunities for young people, and that’s how we keep this vital trade alive. Grayson is extremely proud to play a part in this initiative to ensure that the craft not only survives but thrives for generations to come.”
Roger Morton, Director of Business Change at the National House Building Council (NHBC), said:
“Site Ready Solutions’ model has the potential to transform how the construction industry attracts and prepares new talent. It’s vital that we bring more people into house building to address the skills shortage and the challenge of an ageing workforce. That’s why, at NHBC, we’re investing £100 million in a national network of 12 new multi-skill training hubs to train up to 3,000 apprentices per year, initially in trades including bricklaying, groundworks and site carpentry – all in real-site conditions from day one. We welcome this new partnership and inspirational approach to kickstarting the training journey for new entrants into the industry – equipping them with the skills needed to work safely and effectively on site, secure employment and progress into apprenticeships. It’s a significant step forward in tackling the skills gap and raising the standards and quality of the homes being built.”
Grayson’s initial investment of £15,000 will directly support the scaling of the training programme, enabling more young people to access quality bricklaying training and more employers to tap into a reliable pool of well-prepared candidates. Grayson calls on both government bodies and private sector enterprises to join this momentum by providing further funding and support. Only through a collaborative effort can the construction industry effectively tackle the skills shortage, safeguard traditional crafts and build a stronger, more resilient future.
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