Thousands of workers could be thrown off construction sites after the Learning and Skills Council cut its Train to Gain NVQ funding programme.

Construction news website Building.co.uk reports that the announcement, made at the end of July, affects more than 23,000 staff who have “experienced worker” CSCS cards.

Workers have the option of upgrading their standard labourer cards to these non-renewable cards with a one-to-three-year life span. Upon expiry, workers are required obtain an NVQ to obtain a “skilled operator” card.

Industry bodies say many workers may lose out on a card now that funding for the NVQs has been cut.

Howard Button, chief executive of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC), says: “We’ve had to decline those who want to do NVQs because we can’t get funding to put them through. We’re gutted. We have workers who could lose their cards, and be thrown off site.”

Suzannah Nichol, chief executive of the National Specialist Contractors Council, says: “Employers have obligations to train their workforce and we will lobby hard for the Learning and Skills Council to reinstate the funding.”