Open Doors gives visitors a unique insight into working in construction, seeking to inspire young people and career changers of all ages by letting them go behind the site hoardings and explore construction sites, offices, factories, and training centres across Great Britain, alongside a range of virtual events, panel discussions,
A survey of Build UK members has found that the shortage of skilled labour has become more severe since Brexit, despite the EU referendum outcome not having an immediate slowdown in work for UK contractors overall. The survey shows that in the three months following the referendum, labour costs are
The Construction Industry Training Board and Build UK are set to join forces for one week of exclusive, behind-the-scenes events at a range of London’s highest quality building sites. The ‘Open Doors’ initiative allows entry to a host of construction enterprises in an attempt to motivate people to opt for
One of the UK’s leading trade assocations for the construction industry, Build UK, has urged contractors to take more care before entering into contracts with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). During a review of the RIBA Concise Building Contract and the RIBA Domestic Building Contract, it was highlighted
Open Doors gives visitors a unique insight into working in construction, seeking to inspire young people and career changers of all ages by letting them go behind the site hoardings and explore construction sites, offices, factories, and training centres across Great Britain, alongside a range of virtual events, panel discussions, and Q&As. Bookings for Open Doors 2021 will open to the public on 23 August, with visits taking place throughout Open Doors Week between Monday 4 – Saturday 9 October. Companies can get involved now by registering their details, creating an account, and beginning to upload their sites across the country. Since 2016, over 1,000 sites across the UK have been listed through Open Doors. Last year the event went virtual due to coronavirus, with digital content showcasing major projects – such as ISG’s tour of Lord’s cricket ground, Balfour Beatty’s Luncarty to Pass of Birnam project, and Willmott Dixon’s Riverside House site – and attracting more than 20,000 visitors to the Open Doors website. The current skills shortage in construction is one of the most pressing issues within the industry with over 216,800 new construction jobs to be created by 2025*, and Open Doors provides a fantastic opportunity to inspire and recruit the next generation and career changers to choose a career in construction. Open Doors is delivered by Build UK and supported by CITB, Go Construct, Considerate Constructors Scheme, Construction Skills Certification Scheme, Black Professionals in Construction, Skylapse, the Home Builders Federation, the Careers Enterprise Company, Department for Work & Pensions, STEM Learning, New Futures Network, and media partner Building Magazine. Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive of Build UK, said: “There is nothing quite like visiting a construction site, whether it is a major project you have seen on the news or one in your local area, to get an idea of just how exciting a career in construction can be. Open Doors gives everyone the opportunity to go through the site gates to see just what goes on and perhaps even spot their ideal job! Whether you are a client, contractor, manufacturer, merchant, logistics centre, specialist, designer, or consultant, you can play your part in recruiting the next generation by participating in Open Doors.”
A survey of Build UK members has found that the shortage of skilled labour has become more severe since Brexit, despite the EU referendum outcome not having an immediate slowdown in work for UK contractors overall. The survey shows that in the three months following the referendum, labour costs are on the rise and there has been a significant increase in the number of contractors unable to bid for jobs because they cannot afford the workforce. At the end of June, the UK voted in favour of leaving the European Union in a referendum and while it will be at least two years before the UK actually leaves the EU, there is still uncertainty about what the impact will be in the end. Trade deals will need to be put in place that will determine the extent the UK will continue to support the free movement of people and goods. Build UK’s state of trade survey for Q3 of 2016, covering the months straight after the referendum (July to September) show that while members of Build UK saw their workloads increase immediately after the vote, there were more and more difficulties in recruiting skilled operatives. However, the survey does not shed any light on whether the result of the referendum may have in any way contributed to the recruitment problems recently experienced by the construction industry. An unrelated report from brokers Willis Towers Watson on the implications of Brexit for the UK construction industry states that the industry is currently relying on foreign labour from within the EU, with migrant workers currently filling around 12% of the 2.9 million UK construction jobs. The Build UK survey does show that labour shortages stopped a quarter of contractors from bidding for work during the third quarter of this year, a number that has increased from 16% in Q2.
The Construction Industry Training Board and Build UK are set to join forces for one week of exclusive, behind-the-scenes events at a range of London’s highest quality building sites. The ‘Open Doors’ initiative allows entry to a host of construction enterprises in an attempt to motivate people to opt for a career in the construction industry and help them make their first progression into the sector. Open Doors events are set to take place from Monday 13 June to Saturday 18 June and welcome everyone from civil engineers, bricklayers, front-of-house sales managers and future architects to visitors of all skill sets and ages. When visiting one of the projects, visitors will discover what goes in to constructing the iconic buildings of the future as well as being inspired to learn more about construction via the careers website for the industry – Go Construct. Build UK’s Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol said that the construction business is always endeavouring to secure the best talent available and that the Open Doors scheme, in partnership with CITB, provides an appealing opportunity to anyone contemplating a future career in the industry. She added that a career in the construction business is perfect for anyone seeking a fresh challenge or a chance to do something different with their career and that the Open Doors scheme is an ideal way of showcasing exactly what construction has to offer. Meanwhile, CITB’s Partnerships Manager, Lorraine Gregory, said that by 2020 in excess of 230,000 new jobs in construction will be created across the country and that the Open Doors scheme is a magnificent way of highlighting these opportunities. She continued by saying that visitors will be presented with a unique chance to witness for themselves what a job in the construction industry is like and how fulfilling a construction job can be.
One of the UK’s leading trade assocations for the construction industry, Build UK, has urged contractors to take more care before entering into contracts with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). During a review of the RIBA Concise Building Contract and the RIBA Domestic Building Contract, it was highlighted that contractors were setting themselves up to take a large proportion of the financial risk. The small print means contractors are subject to potentially costly implications, including forfeiting the right to an EOT/additional payment if changes are made without the contract administrator being made aware within 10 days of the change instruction. Details of both time and cost implications must be forwarded by contractors under the two RIBA contracts. Greater awareness of the accompanying responsibilities and obligations is therefore required and, if in doubt, contractors should seek appropriate legal advice. The research was carried out by legislation expert and industry body, the Contractors Legal Group (CLG), of which Build UK is a member. The Concise Building Contract is designed for small-scale commercial building projects while the Domestic Building Contract covers the breadth of non-commercial work, including: new builds, extensions, renovations and maintenance. Following CLG’s review, Build UK also pointed out the lack of standard sub-contracts to go hand-in-hand with the RIBA contracts. For contractors reliant on their supply chain, RIBA’s contracts could therefore prove a costly learning curve. The trade association insisted that any and all sub-contracts should be clear and need to adhere with RIBA’s specific requirements. RIBA has since been made aware of the issues raised by CLG and Build UK. The organisation is currently reviewing the two contracts though its is not expected to published the revised versions until later this year. It is hoped the revisions will take into account the disproportionate risk contractors currently face and present a more financially viable alternative from which all parties can benefit.
