Developer Redrow is combining bricks and mortar boards as it launches the UK's first degree in housebuilding in an attempt to combat the crippling skills shortage that is threatening the sector.

Students will learn skills to become a construction manager, such as project management, health and safety, business skills, negotiation, as well as law, mathematics and economics.

Redrow said that the first intake would be in September, and it is only open to current employees who have a level three qualification, similar to an A-level, or a minimum of five years in industry, who would do the programme to attain a BSc (Hons) Construction Management in Housebuilding alongside their work.

However, it added that it hoped to open the degree out to other housebuilders. It is being run by Liverpool John Moores University and Coleg Cambria, one of the UK’s largest colleges.

Karen Jones of Redrow said: “The housebuilding sector has a real opportunity to innovate the way we develop and deliver skills training... Part of that means working in partnership with further education providers to develop new pathways that enable recruits to develop the aptitude, attitude and strategic [knowledge] to deliver communities at scale."