A new report published by Arden University has found that the Construction sector is set to lose 567,670 jobs in the hands of automation and technological advances in the workplace. The 2030 Workforce Report also found that by 2030, 30% of all jobs in the UK could be eradicated due
CITB’s England Construction Opportunities (ECO) commission sees eight successful bids awarded a total of just over £1.8m. This investment will directly help address the construction industry’s skills gap, increase employment retention, and provide vital support to new starters at the beginning of their construction careers. Each of the eight projects
A new survey by UK Construction Week Birmingham has revealed that those who work in the industry believe better school careers advice and improving the sector’s ‘dirty’ image are key steps to resolving the current skills gap in construction. With just two weeks before the three-day show returns to the
A new apprenticeship for Commercial Gas Engineering Operatives has officially launched at Leeds College of Building. The apprenticeship is the first of its kind in Yorkshire, and the first time the College has offered a commercial rather than domestic pathway for gas engineers. The training is aimed at individuals employed
Solihull-based affordable housing specialist Living Space has promoted its commercial manager Steve Oldacre to Commercial Director, in recognition of his valuable contribution to the company. Among Steve’s enhanced roles will be to focus on the importance of a strong pipeline, identify opportunities for growth as well as developing and driving
Global construction cost consultancy, Soben has expanded its senior management team with the appointment of Pieter Schaap as Director. Pieter is the sixth director-level appointment to be made at Soben this year, with further growth planned in the coming months. Pieter joins award-winning Soben from Yondr Group, where he was Supply Chain Director
Scottish technology firm, Recycl8, has announced the appointment of new CEO, Mark Gillespie. The former energy executive will be working with the Recycl8 team to drive the firm’s business strategy as they enter the next stage in their development. Recycl8 founder and nationally regarded authority on waste management, Ian Skene,
The pin Partnership, a new venture created by propertyCEO, the UK’s leading property development training company, and the property investors network (pin), the UK’s largest property training and networking organisation, aims to become the central resource for property training and education. Anyone interested in learning more about this sector will
Mark Green joins from ISG and assumes the role of Operations Director working out of Glencar’s expanding Midland’s office. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses has today announced that it has hired Mark Green into the role of Operations Director. Mark
Birmingham-based The Construction Consultants (TCC) has announced its third senior appointment in as many months, with the recruitment of a new senior CDM consultant. Experienced health and safety professional, Paul Woods, has joined the expanding multi-disciplined construction consultancy to support a growing national demand for its services. Paul has established
A new report published by Arden University has found that the Construction sector is set to lose 567,670 jobs in the hands of automation and technological advances in the workplace. The 2030 Workforce Report also found that by 2030, 30% of all jobs in the UK could be eradicated due to automation changing the workforce. With more jobs set to involve working alongside or in tandem with new technologies, the research also found that only a minority of employees are currently up to speed and comfortable working with developing digital technology. In the Construction sector, it found that 20 per cent of people felt they had a digital skills gap and weren’t prepared for the technological changes at hand. Commenting on this, Carl Lygo, CEO and Vice Chancellor at Arden University says: “As automation begins to play a greater role in economic production, it will disrupt these industries the most significantly, with the effects being felt across society and the nation’s economy. “Upskilling is most urgent – particularly for the employees who may not have the digital skills to prepare them for the evolving jobs of the future. It is now up to education institutions to ensure they are teaching and preparing the next generation for the jobs of the future and not solely for the jobs of today.” The worst affected in the UK Over a half of jobs are set to become extinct in the transport and storage industry (56% of jobs) with manufacturing (46%), wholesale, retail, and repair of motor vehicles (44%), admin & support services (37%), and public admin & defence, social security/ financial & insurance services (32%), being the remaining top sectors expected to undergo a massive shift in the next decade. “The pandemic has magnified this shift with the rise of home-working and online socialising. Yet whilst much of the population becomes ever more proficient, for some, a lack of technological proficiency or access risks them being left behind. “As digital technology plays a more prominent role in most jobs, and more employees work alongside tech, basic digital literacy will become an essential skill, on a par with reading and writing. As more jobs require digital skills, upskilling the population is a key priority. “It is without a doubt that automation will result in a foundational change to the landscape of work. Higher education institutions now have a very important job to do to ensure that the nation is ready and prepared for the jobs of the future,” concludes Carl.
CITB’s England Construction Opportunities (ECO) commission sees eight successful bids awarded a total of just over £1.8m. This investment will directly help address the construction industry’s skills gap, increase employment retention, and provide vital support to new starters at the beginning of their construction careers. Each of the eight projects will deliver a combined total of 3,500 employment support plans to assist individuals, with the aim of achieving long-term sustained employment. Through the ECO funding, the selected suppliers will bring support systems to the following regions: Abbey Access Centre Ltd – Lincoln Barking Riverside Ltd – London Gement Ltd – London and South-East Hampshire County Council Landau Ltd – Shropshire NFRC – England WMCA – West Midlands Women into Construction – England Over the course of three years, the ECO projects will support individuals to overcome any initial challenges they may face as they begin their career in construction, while also providing ongoing in-work support to improve retention and importantly, progression. The successful suppliers all have established links with the construction industry, many already working with contractors and employers across a range of sites throughout the UK. Hampshire County Council, Landau Ltd, WMCA and Barking Riverside Ltd are all recognised for previously supporting construction opportunities through the Construction Skills Fund (CSF), a similar model designed and delivered collaboratively through CITB and the Department for Education. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), Women into Construction, Abbey Access Centre Ltd and Gement Ltd all have expertise in specialist careers advice, training, and employment opportunities within the construction industry. CITB’s investment in the ECO commission will provide critical support to deliver the skills industry requires to meet demand, with many of the selected suppliers anticipating a high level of activity in the coming years. Landau Ltd is just one of the projects that will be engaging with local employers to cater to the high demand for new build projects in Telford, currently the fourth most active area within the UK for new build homes. Barking Riverside Ltd and the WMCA will also be centring their projects around local activity, with large-scale regeneration planned in both Birmingham, following the Commonwealth Games, and across the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The eight projects are aligned in their approach, with the belief that regular ‘touch points’ and guidance sessions with sector specialists will be key to retaining more participants in construction roles. Many of the projects aim to implement bespoke support and action plans for learners, with this investment from CITB enabling them to have a greater presence in the individual’s training and development. Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said: “It’s fantastic to see the ECO commission progress forward with eight successful bids. Their wealth of knowledge and experience, combined with their established partnerships, will be vital in creating the opportunities, supporting new entrants, and critically maximising skills retention in the industry, all of which CITB recognises is and will continue to be crucial for the foreseeable future. “With a changing landscape and a demand in England alone for over 220,000 additional workers by 2026, the challenge industry faces should not be underestimated. However, this commission presents a great opportunity to contribute and address some of those key skills challenges, primarily helping towards securing construction’s talent pipeline. I’m really looking forward to watching the projects flourish and wish them all the best of luck as they move into the next phase.”
A new survey by UK Construction Week Birmingham has revealed that those who work in the industry believe better school careers advice and improving the sector’s ‘dirty’ image are key steps to resolving the current skills gap in construction. With just two weeks before the three-day show returns to the NEC on October 4th, the survey polled over 1,100 people across the sector, including architects, engineers, housebuilders, installers, joiners, contractors and consultants. It found over a quarter (26%) of respondents felt the solution to fixing the skills gap was ‘better career advice at school/college to paint a more attractive picture of construction to young people’, while 24% said the answer was ‘a long-term strategy to attract and retain talent, not just a short fix’. Key barriers to young people pursuing a career in construction were seen as the industry being perceived as ‘dirty job’ (23%), lack of careers advice (19%), and the sector being seen as male-dominated (15%). Other survey results included: The main barriers to people’s own advancement in construction was due to lack of training support from their employer (18%); poor careers advice (18%); and lack of funding (17%) 57% of respondents thought the skills gap had either worsened or stayed the same in the last two years, with ‘the great resignation’ (19%); uncertainty (17%); and long lead times and the rise of materials and product costs (17%) being the principal causes Respondents said the best things about working in construction are the tangible results (25%); learning new skills (20%); and the fact that no two days are the same (15%) When asked what the construction industry workforce will look like in 2050, the most popular responses included ‘a more diverse/female workforce’; ‘more use of AI’; ‘increase in mechanisation/robotics’; and ‘it will be more lucrative and attractive to graduates’ 84% of respondents said flexible/hybrid working was now an option in their role, with the key reasons for the 16% who don’t have that flexibility being ‘not practical – we need to be on site at all times’ (52%); ‘the directors do not like it’ (18%) and ‘it’s never been discussed’ (16%) Nathan Garnett, UKCW Birmingham’s event director said: “Our survey is a clarion call to both the government and construction sector, and outlines what we need to change if we are to tackle the skills crisis we currently face. We plan to use our event in just two weeks’ time to set out some of the solutions that our survey points to so we can create real culture change. “Our survey not only highlights the challenge, but it also illustrates the variety and truly rewarding nature of being part of the built environment – a message we will get across loud and clear.” Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “As we continue to work hard to supercharge our region’s economic recovery, the construction sector will play a key role. Many of our young people – and indeed local job seekers of all ages – have recognised that joining this industry can offer an exciting, practical and well paid career path for those willing to grasp the opportunity. “However, it’s clear from the survey that we have more work to do to change perceptions and highlight the positive side of this booming sector which will shape the West Midlands for many years to come. I hope to play my part in fostering interest in construction – working together with the industry and other bodies like CITB – not only to connect local residents with great jobs but also to alleviate the skills shortage in the sector which is essential if we are to reach our full potential.” Tim Balcon, Chief Executive, CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) said: “We welcome this insight, which highlights the challenge that is being faced to attract and retain talent and to address the skills gap. We need to work collaboratively across industry to strengthen the entire talent pipeline and increase the number of people joining and staying in construction. “By investing over £233m across the sector this year, we’re doing all that we can to facilitate key routes into industry such as apprenticeship and employer grants, occupational traineeships, and onsite experience hubs. In short, we’re working hard to support the construction industry to address the gap highlighted in this report so that we can build a skilled, competent and inclusive workforce both for now and in the future.” This year UKCW Birmingham is expecting around 25,000 attendees, will officially be opened by Channel 4 presenter George Clarke and features guest speaker Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands. Celebrating culture change in the construction industry with an exciting programme of debate and discussion from top speakers, the show will also shine a spotlight on over 6,000 products from more than 300 exciting exhibitors. Visitors will also be able to find sections dedicated to Net Zero, Building Materials, Digitalisation, Infrastructure, Surface & Materials, Offsite Construction, and Skills & Careers. Register for free here, UKCW Birmingham registrations and if you are part of an industry group or community and you’d like to host your own networking event please get in touch via info@ukconstructionweek.com. Follow on social media @uk_cw #UKCW2022
A new apprenticeship for Commercial Gas Engineering Operatives has officially launched at Leeds College of Building. The apprenticeship is the first of its kind in Yorkshire, and the first time the College has offered a commercial rather than domestic pathway for gas engineers. The training is aimed at individuals employed by gas, heating, and ventilation firms who specialise in business services. Jim Branney, Curriculum Manager for Gas and Short Courses at Leeds College of Building, explained: “Since changes were made to the entry requirements to allow people work in the gas industry, employers have been unable to easily tap into this kind of commercial gas engineering training. We have therefore been responsive to employer feedback and adopted a BPEC curriculum framework, endpoint assessment, and accredited certification specifically for these apprentices working in commercial organisations. “The training is a little different to the domestic route as it’s not a qualification – it’s a managed learning programme leading to Gateway. The outcome is still an End Point Assessment and ultimately an apprenticeship certificate. Training is designed for those who need to know theories and safety procedures involved in the commercial installation, commissioning, decommissioning, or service and repair of gas appliances and associated equipment.” Jim continued: “This is probably one of only a handful of apprenticeship routes regionally into the commercial gas industry, yet there is a huge demand for trained professionals needed for thousands of opportunities nationally. This apprenticeship is an ideal route for individuals looking to specialise as commercial gas engineers.” The new apprenticeship will cover statutory requirements such as health, safety and environmental legislation and regulation, along with maintenance of gas installations and appliances in accordance with industry standards. Apprentices also learn about electrical and mechanical principles, energy efficiency, products, company rules, policies and procedures, risk assessments, tool maintenance, personal protective equipment (PPE), working on customer premises, effective communication, working with different trades, flue testing, pipework installation, ambient air testing, and identifying faults. In the final three months of the apprenticeship, trainees submit a portfolio consisting of a Gas Safe® registration certificate, competency test, and work-log review which includes an interview with a Technical Expert. On achieving a pass or distinction, apprentices will be eligible for membership with the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) professional registration as an Engineering Technician (EngTech). Applicants should be aged 16 or over and ideally already be employed or have secured a work placement. Those unable to find an apprenticeship can apply for a study programme at Leeds College of Building and switch over to an apprenticeship at any point when a vacancy becomes available. Visit the Leeds College of Building website for more details about how to apply or to enquire about training your employees.
Solihull-based affordable housing specialist Living Space has promoted its commercial manager Steve Oldacre to Commercial Director, in recognition of his valuable contribution to the company. Among Steve’s enhanced roles will be to focus on the importance of a strong pipeline, identify opportunities for growth as well as developing and driving the commercial function of the business. He brings to the senior role more than three decades of commercial experience, and says he is looking forward to the challenge ahead. “We have a tight-knit team here at Living Space,” said Steve, “and I am absolutely committed to retaining and strengthening the strong relationships across our commercial, construction and sub-contractors’ teams. Ensuring we are all fully integrated and tuned in to the needs of each department is key to an effective and productive good working practice.” Steve, who is MCIOB chartered, started his career at the age of 16 at J. Hickman & Sons, as a trainee QS, before beginning a five-year period at Bromsgrove builders Weavers – a career path move that he credits with providing and cementing some of the key skills of his professional life. After working for himself for a number of years, Steve joined Mansel PLC as a senior quantity surveyor where promotions followed through from managing quantity surveyor up to divisional manager. In 2013 he left the company to take up the position of Regional Commercial Manager for United Living Group in Wolverhampton where he stayed for eight years. He joined Living Space in 2021 following a spell at Vistry Group where he was Group Senior Surveyor. Paul Breen, Managing Director of Living Space, said: “Steve has played a pivotal role in developing our supply chain strategy, driving efficiencies, and developing our processes to improve supplier performance. In his 12 months as Commercial Manager, he demonstrated a professionalism and eye for detail that brought real value to our business. “This is well-deserved recognition of Steve’s contribution to Living Space Housing and the wider group and is a timely promotion as we accelerate our ambitious growth plans.” The overall value of Living Space’s development portfolio is now approaching £200million, which equates to 950 affordable houses, apartments and bungalows. The company is on track to deliver at least 20 developments over the next two years. It is the partnership arm of the WhatHouse? ‘Housebuilder of the Year’ Hayfield. The vast majority of the homes Living Space builds are delivered to Registered Providers (RPs) for affordable rent and shared ownership. Living Space sources the land, achieves planning consent and builds the homes for the RP, enabling them to focus on the funding and management of high-quality homes for their residents. For more information, visit www.livingspace.co.uk
Global construction cost consultancy, Soben has expanded its senior management team with the appointment of Pieter Schaap as Director. Pieter is the sixth director-level appointment to be made at Soben this year, with further growth planned in the coming months. Pieter joins award-winning Soben from Yondr Group, where he was Supply Chain Director for the APAC region. He brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise, including in oil and gas, petrochemical, and data centre sectors, and has a strong background in mission critical environments. Pieter’s initial key responsibilities include the formation of supply chain workstreams, sustainability transformations and organisational changes, and creating development activities that relate to Soben’s key clients. Pieter, born and raised in the Netherlands, and a master’s graduate of the University of Groningen, said: “Having the opportunity to work with clients around the globe and add real value to our industry is something I have always enjoyed. “Soben is enabling me to do what I love, and I am looking forward to making a strong impact.” Scott Smyth, Soben Founder and Group CEO commented: “I am delighted to welcome Pieter to the Soben team and know he will do an excellent job in overseeing the development of our global supply chain. “Pieter’s extensive leadership and knowledge in driving successful procurement strategies will benefit our clients and their stakeholders tremendously. “He also has fantastic relationship-building skills, which will help to further cement our strong ties with our current client base across the world. “I believe Pieter’s hire is a real statement of intent and perfectly demonstrates our underlying ambitions to build and develop a global company that offers the marketplace something different.” Soben has further plans for expansion, targeting 1000 people globally by 2027 to support growth in current locations and expansion into additional territories.
Scottish technology firm, Recycl8, has announced the appointment of new CEO, Mark Gillespie. The former energy executive will be working with the Recycl8 team to drive the firm’s business strategy as they enter the next stage in their development. Recycl8 founder and nationally regarded authority on waste management, Ian Skene, will move into the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO), where he will work closely with Mark and the wider team to bring their ground-breaking low carbon green concrete to market. Mark is a high-profile figure in the energy and renewables industries, having held senior executive roles across various companies including Global Marine Group, Royal IHC, Ecosse Subsea Systems as well as TechnipFMC and GE Oil & Gas. Founded by Ian Skene in 2019, Recycl8 works in collaboration with the waste-to-energy and global construction industries to transform Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) normally destined for landfill into a high-performing, low-carbon concrete solution. Ian said, “I’m delighted to welcome Mark to the Recycl8 team, and have no doubt he will excel in the role. Mark’s strong track record as a leader in the energy industry, with his particular expertise in the renewables sector, places us in a very strong position to work with all our stakeholders to bring our unique product to market. By working with us, concrete manufacturers can deliver a significantly reduced carbon footprint to our ever-growing demand for concrete, and waste-to-energy facilities have an alternative, circular economy solution to sending ash to landfill. “Mark’s appointment is extremely timely. We were recently awarded patent status for our low-carbon concrete solution, which means we are the only company in the UK permitted to process IBA and transform it into our concrete mix. As we look to build on this milestone, Mark’s appointment will strengthen our team and drive our progress in this next exciting phase of the business.” Mark added, “I’m excited to join Recycl8 and work alongside Ian and the team. I’ve long admired Ian’s pioneering work in the waste management industry, and I’m passionate about helping Recycl8 in their bid to foster the circular economy and reduce the carbon footprint of the construction and waste-to-energy industries. I look forward to building on the excellent work that Ian and the team have done over the past three years.” Recycl8 is a socially and environmentally conscious company which is committed to contributing to the circular economy and to supporting businesses and communities reach their net zero goals. The company is currently exploring potential bases in the Central Belt area, in a bid to be closer to waste-to-energy incinerator plants, and to be more centrally located for concrete manufacturers and other stakeholders across the UK. Recycl8 previously secured a 7-figure investment from energy industry figures, Mike Wilson founder of Ecosse Subsea Systems and Doug Duguid founder of global engineering firm, EnerMech, as well as a 6-figure grant by Innovate UK to assist with the testing process. Since then, Reycycl8 have achieved several milestones, including being awarded their patent status for their solution, appointing Lloyd Duncan to assist with expanding into the renewable sector specifically targeting wind farms, as well as being shortlisted for Innovation of the Year at this year’s Elevator Awards. Both Mark and Ian will be attending RWM – the recycling, resource and environmental services conference in Birmingham this week (14th to 15th September). For more information visit https://www.r8iba.com
The pin Partnership, a new venture created by propertyCEO, the UK’s leading property development training company, and the property investors network (pin), the UK’s largest property training and networking organisation, aims to become the central resource for property training and education. Anyone interested in learning more about this sector will have access to a variety of high-quality training courses. “Landlords are extremely well-placed to tackle small-scale development projects, and this new partnership means we can help more people reap the benefits of tackling these smaller projects. And of course all pin Partnership students will have the peace of mind of knowing that they will be getting industry-leading training at a fair price,” said Ritchie Clapson CEng MIStructE, founder of propertyCEO. Providing training and mentoring to people interested in small-scale property developments, propertyCEO have developed their courses in a way that it helps trainees leverage their existing skill sets to tackle smaller development projects successfully, and to make the most of the recently expanded range of Permitted Development Rights. pin and the Property Mastermind Programme, both founded by Simon Zutshi, have enabled thousands of people to benefit from Buy-To-Let investing and have helped landlords make the most of their portfolios by providing much needed quality housing in the private rental sector. “Over the last two decades, pin and the Property Mastermind Programme have set a high bar for property networking and training for landlords and investors. Our new venture with propertyCEO means that pin Partnership students will now also have access to propertyCEO’s world-class training and can take advantage of the massive opportunities that exist in small-scale property development right now. The pin Partnership is now the go-to place for high quality training right across the property spectrum,” said Simon Zutshi. The organisations and their products will continue to operate independently, but each will now also operate under the new pin Partnership umbrella. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Mark Green joins from ISG and assumes the role of Operations Director working out of Glencar’s expanding Midland’s office. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses has today announced that it has hired Mark Green into the role of Operations Director. Mark will be based at Glencar’s expanding Midlands office based in Solihull, Birmingham. Mark joins from Construction Services Company ISG after more than 21 years with the business. He initially started out at ISG Pearce as Operations Manager and more latterly held the position of Divisional Operations Director based in Bristol, where he was also Account Lead for Tesco. In his role at ISG Mark oversaw leading programs of work along with large individual projects on the Tesco retail account together with several large multi-million Amazon distribution schemes. Speaking about the announcement Glencar CEO Eddie McGillycuddy said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark into the business who brings significant experience and expertise which will strengthen our Midlands office significantly. We continue to experience extremely strong growth right across the Midlands market and industrial/logistics sector so this appointment will not only strengthen and expand our team but enable growth through increased resources and customer partnerships. Talking about his appointment Operations Director Mark Green said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity with Glencar and very happy to be joining during a time of such rapid growth and regional expansion with many exciting projects under construction across the Midlands and in the pipeline. I have worked in the construction industry for many years and my values reflect those of the company; working as a team to put the customer first and grow strong, strategic partnerships. I look forward to working with the Midlands team to build repeat business and further growth.”
Birmingham-based The Construction Consultants (TCC) has announced its third senior appointment in as many months, with the recruitment of a new senior CDM consultant. Experienced health and safety professional, Paul Woods, has joined the expanding multi-disciplined construction consultancy to support a growing national demand for its services. Paul has established a track record for the successful delivery of construction design and management services during a 25-year career in health and safety, spanning the public and private sectors. He specialises in areas including pre-construction and construction phase planning and management, as well as auditing, inspection, safe systems of work and the production of safety management systems. Recent experience includes the delivery of support services to the UK and North West Europe safety teams at Fujitsu, where he was a senior health and safety manager for more than a decade. The appointment further complements TCC’s 18-strong specialist team and follows the recent recruitment of Allan Davies as Director and Clint Howell as Senior Building Surveyor. Co-founder and Director of TCC, Alex Pimley said that the firm had spent many months selecting the best candidate for the new role. He said: “Our success has been built on long-term client relationships and industry-leading services, so it’s crucial that we employ the very best professionals in our sector. “Paul is hugely experienced in the built environment and well respected in his field, having delivered services in all aspects of health and safety for the likes of the Ministry of Defence and Croydon Council. His expertise will be an invaluable asset to us as we move into the next phase of our business growth.” TCC is an independent, multi-disciplined construction consultancy headquartered in Cannon Street, Birmingham. Launched in 2017, it has developed a growing portfolio of clients including The Gym Group, Zone Developments, Ocado, Equation Properties, Panattoni, BentallGreenOak, Godwin Developments, Wolverhampton Council, University of Wolverhampton and St Francis Group. It specialises in a wide range of disciplines, most notably project management, employer’s agent, quantity surveying, fund monitoring and CDM consultancy.