Research by the FMB shows that greater involvement of construction in education is highly likely to encourage young people into the profession.<\/p>\n
The research found that 23% of Londoners feel that if they met a successful tradesperson, they would be more likely to encourage a young person into construction.<\/p>\n
Besides aiding the construction skills crisis, this would also tackle the issue of 30% of UK residents asking for improved careers advice in schools.<\/p>\n
The FMB has already demonstrated how programmes allowing pupils to meet with tradespeople could work, as year 8 pupils were given the opportunity at the Chelmsford Skills Festival, 16-25-year-olds at the London Construction Futures Fair, and 16-19-year-olds at the open day at Wanstead campus.<\/p>\n
The events involved activities such as teamwork-based games, talks from the Future Fair\u2019s director discussing routes into the industry, and opportunities for students to meet FMB members and the first Build Academy cohort.<\/p>\n
Tom Peardon, London director at the Federation of Master Builders, said: “A third of Londoners say meeting a successful tradesperson would change their minds. So put one in front of them. Every London school should be able to bring a working builder into a classroom before pupils choose their options. Build Academy, which is a collaborative pilot between the FMB, Shooters Hill Sixth Form College and the CITB, places young Londoners into apprenticeships with small building firms. A year in, it has taken students to become confident, productive apprentices in work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunny Bamra, program director at Build Academy, added: “One of the biggest challenges we face as an industry is sparking that initial interest in young people. It’s particularly challenging on the small business front \u2014 unless someone has a family member who is a builder, it’s not a career people aim for. That’s why it’s vital we get Build Academy in front of young people, showcasing a route into the industry and helping them meet role models to aspire to.”<\/p>\n
A major issue causing the skills crisis is that more construction workers are retiring than are joining the industry, and the CITB\u2019s Construction Workforce Outlook 2025-2029 estimates that an additional 239,300 workers will be needed simply to meet demand.<\/p>\n
This is at a time when demand for housing, infrastructure, and retrofit is rising, and pressure on the industry is growing.<\/p>\n