{"id":120707,"date":"2023-03-13T11:55:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T11:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=120707"},"modified":"2023-03-13T11:56:13","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T11:56:13","slug":"securing-building-and-construction-skills-for-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/hr-skills-news\/securing-building-and-construction-skills-for-the-future\/120707\/","title":{"rendered":"Securing building and construction skills for the future"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the building and construction skills shortage becoming of increasing concern, everybody must play their part in attracting and training new talent. David Wigglesworth, managing director of SFS<\/a> UK, explores how manufacturers can help<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret that a growing building and construction skills shortage is a threat to our whole industry \u2013 and the pressure is on to bridge the gap. Rewind six years, when the 2016 Farmer Review highlighted the scale of the issue, predicting that there would be up to a 25% decline in the available building and construction workforce within a decade.<\/p>\n

Now fast forward to the present. During summer 2021, the Construction Skills Network provided more concrete numbers \u2013 we need 217,000 new workers by 2025 just to meet demand. While this includes infrastructure projects<\/a>, a significant number will be involved in the construction of commercial or residential buildings.<\/p>\n

Understanding the building and construction skills gap<\/h3>\n

Put simply, we have an ageing workforce<\/a>, and there are dwindling numbers of young people entering the building trade. As the current workforce nears retirement, new blood is essential to replace those who leave. The current crisis has resulted because there hasn\u2019t been that steady drip-feed of replacement over the past few decades. The last big boom in recruitment was during the 1980s \u2013 40 years ago<\/a>. These are the workers now approaching retirement.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, little has been done to make construction seem like an attractive career choice for Millennials and Generation Z, especially next to the proliferation of new opportunities fuelled by digital technology. There is the perception \u2013 not unfounded \u2013 that construction lags behind other industries in digital transformation, further discouraging the digital natives amongst potential new entrants.<\/p>\n

It’s also worth noting the lack of diversity within the industry<\/a>, where white males make up a massive majority. Women account for around 12% of construction employees, the same percentage as those from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. There are thousands of potential new entrants who might be put off joining an industry that they feel doesn\u2019t represent them.<\/p>\n

Practical action to solve the building and construction skills shortage<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s going to be a big challenge, but it\u2019s vital that the building and construction industry, collectively, rises to it. The future depends on it \u2013 and, by extension, the future development of buildings, from homes to hospitals, offices to factories. Or, more bluntly, all of our futures.<\/p>\n

Attracting new building and construction talent<\/h3>\n

The first thing is to build connections with the next generation. That\u2019s why we have successful partnerships with both Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds.<\/p>\n

For students, these partnerships allow them to make a clear link between their classroom teaching and the practical, commercial application of this learning \u2013 for example, in the development and manufacture of building products. For SFS<\/a>, it means we can explore new ideas and product development, via a series of research placements and projects.<\/p>\n

Professional development in building and construction<\/h3>\n

From the newly qualified to the older employees looking to upskill, CPDs present a sure-fire way of sharing knowledge and instilling best practices. Our range of RIBA-approved CPD modules, designed for architects and specifiers, covers a wide range of topics, including:<\/p>\n