The latest plan to tackle the construction skills gap in East Anglia has been signed, with a focus on encouraging more young people to choose careers in the sector.

The Sector Skills Plan for Construction spells out how the sector in Norfolk and Suffolk can address its challenges by looking to under-used recruitment routes - such as Armed Forces veterans or ex-offenders - and building closer links with the energy sector to develop a highly-skilled workforce.

Led by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), it includes projects between training providers and employers to ensure that:

· Construction students have access to appropriate work experience and opportunities to progress into apprenticeships;

· Construction training provision meets the needs of employers;

· The need for more higher-level construction-related courses in the region is addressed.

The plan has been developed by employers to address the skills gap in construction and give young people a greater awareness of the opportunities available, and appeal to different sectors of the community. It is being funded from the existing skills allocation set aside through the LEP's £221.5m Growth Deal.

It was signed by Andy Wood, chairman of New Anglia Skills Board, and Saul Humphrey, director of RG Carter and chair of the New Anglia Building Growth Group, at Great Yarmouth College yesterday.

Mr Wood, chair of the New Anglia Skills Board and chief executive of the brewer Adnams, said: 'This plan is the result of impressive partnership working across the sector. New Anglia LEP, through the Skills Board, fully supports the actions agreed in this plan and recognises the importance of helping to ensure that a sector that is crucial to the growth of this region has the skills it needs now and in the future.'

Mr Humphrey said: 'We need to identify new ways of addressing the skills gaps in construction, including giving young people, as well as their influencers such as parents and teachers, a better understanding of the range of opportunities in the industry and the exciting ways in which technology and new construction methods will shape the built environment in the future.'