Tom's Story

Tom, 31, from Sheffield South East wanted to retrain in construction to help build the homes his community desperately needs. Training providers across Yorkshire and The Humber had unfilled places while local housing targets remained unmet. But CITB levy funding wasn't directed to areas with the greatest housing need because HM Treasury treats infrastructure spending as a deficit risk rather than as the mechanism that puts skilled tradespeople to work. The workers were available, the training capacity existed, and homes already had planning permission. What was missing was a central government willing to fund the posts that would connect Tom's ambitions to his community's needs. This episode explores how Westminster's spending choices block both individual opportunity and regional development. Contains strong language and references to financial stress.