A selection of readers’ comments about news and issues in the industry from across the CIOB community and social media

The construction industry cautiously welcomed Labour chancellor John Healey’s first budget, which offered support for housing, devolution and skills.

ave Stitt FCIOB considers what it takes to turn words such as ‘collaboration’, ‘accountability’ and ‘leadership’ into useful tools for action – and offers a practical CPD exercise for readers and their colleagues.

Technical skills may get you promoted but success in projects relies on capabilities that are often untrained.

The cheapest programme time on any job is bought before anyone signs. Andy Pritchard on who needs to be in the room, and why price is the wrong reason to keep them out

From digital learning to building safety and new qualifications, the CIOB Academy has evolved with construction’s skills requirements. We speak to director Adrian Montague

The government programme aims to open up tech careers in sectors that include infrastructure and engineering

Mark Ewen, head of buildings at Mott MacDonald, on education, industry demand, retention and broadening routes into construction.

Tell us how you got into the industry After GCSEs, I went into the building trade as a bricklayer for about three years before switching onto highways, working on bridge…

People strategies for SMEs cannot be a scaled-down version of a multinational’s approach

The government has published its Construction Jobs Plan, setting out how it will work with industry to tackle skills shortages and build the workforce needed to deliver its housing, infrastructure…

Level 2 standard would give apprentices broad-based training across four trades, reflecting the varied work undertaken by small construction firms

Figures show a regional discrepancy in apprenticeships

A QS will be the first construction professional working with college students

Construction needs to stop fishing in the same talent pool

Continuing our series featuring insights from major employers, Rachael Smith, people & culture executive director at Sir Robert McAlpine, tells Nicky Roger what the contractor looks for in candidates, where skills gaps are emerging and how it is using workforce planning to develop talent

The construction industry cannot afford to wait until 2029 for the government’s new technical education pathways, argues Thermatic’s Jen Buckley, who says employers must act now to tackle skills shortages and challenge outdated perceptions of construction careers

With billions being invested in water infrastructure, Anglian Water’s Amanda Bridger argues that building the workforce to deliver it starts with making careers in the sector visible and accessible to a much wider pool of young people