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

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

Experienced construction professionals are being encouraged to move into further education teaching as new analysis highlights pressure on the sector’s training capacity.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has named the organisations that will deliver its new Specialist Upskilling Fund, designed to tackle training barriers and skills shortages across some of construction’s specialist occupations.

From September 2029, 14-16-year-olds across the country will be offered “Vocational GCSEs” in topics that could include construction.

Around half the new intake will be apprentices, graduates, interns and trainees.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) are to develop a National Skills Academy for Construction as the region faces a projected shortfall of more than 3,800 construction workers a year over the next five years.

Leeds College of Building has launched a regional network of 22 colleges aimed at expanding training opportunities and addressing skills shortages across the construction sector.

A new council has been established to explore how major infrastructure projects can create more employment and training opportunities for young people, amid concerns over the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has launched a sector skills plan to tackle workforce shortages and protect specialist skills across the heritage and traditional building sector.

Housing associations and local authorities are being urged to use retrofit procurement as a tool to create local jobs and address green skills shortage.

Women into Home Building Programme helped civil engineer boost UK construction career

Retention of older workers will build productivity, quality and safety

A new construction-specific training programme aimed at supporting deaf and workers is being developed with backing from CITB.

A new e-learning academy has been launched to help current and aspiring project managers develop their skills in the engineering construction industry. The PMSG Academy has been developed by the…

JRS Training continued its commitment to developing the next generation of construction professionals through its ongoing partnership with The King’s Trust. As part of the latest programme, a group of…

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