House of Lords visit

On Thursday 27 March 2025 I had the pleasure of attending the House of Lords in London. This was in support of TrustMark for the launch of their report “Skilled to Build: Empowering the UK's Repair, Maintenance and Improvement sector for a better future”.

TrustMark’s aim for this research was to identify the factors contributing to the skills gap in the UK construction and home repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sectors, and propose practical policy and operational recommendations to create career opportunities.

Key highlights from the research include:

• An estimated 39,000 businesses are at risk of disappearing from the sector in the next 10 years

• 64% of small and micro businesses cite a lack of financial incentives acting as a barrier to recruiting ​apprentices

• There is headroom to employ an additional 195,000 skilled tradespeople in the RMI sector

The report also proposes recommendations to help meet this gap, falling into four main categories: 

• Developing and delivering fit-for-purpose training & curricula 

• Strengthening the navigation system for businesses to find recruits

Unlocking and raising awareness of the financial incentives available; and training and encouraging businesses into renewables and clean heat technologies.

At TASK Academy we are dedicated to delivering a range of courses to help bridge the gap for those already in the industry and those who want to learn new skills.

I am passionate about getting this industry “on the map” and into people’s minds so they can prepare sooner (or later) and achieve a career within our amazing world of landscaping. The opportunities to learn so many skills is endless and is a fantastic way to earn a living. It really doesn’t feel like work when you are so passionate about what you do in a job, whether that is working for someone else or for yourself; everything is achievable in this industry.

To find out more about what courses are available at TASK Academy, please visit the courses page on our website: Landscape Courses Industry training — TASK Academy