Leona's Story

Leona, 33, from Holborn and St Pancras in London, wanted to retrain in construction to help build the homes her community desperately needs. Training providers had unfilled places and local authorities had unmet housing targets, yet the pathway remained blocked. HM Treasury's treatment of infrastructure spending as a deficit risk, rather than the mechanism to put skilled workers to work, meant CITB levy funding was not directed where housing need was greatest. The workers were available, training capacity existed, but Westminster chose fiscal restraint over building homes that already had planning permission. This episode explores how central government spending choices create artificial scarcity in the construction sector. Disclosure: Blocked Britain is funded by listener donations and contains discussion of economic policy.