Building new opportunities: future skills to support manufacturing led construction

The construction sector is a major economic driver and one of the largest contributors to UK GDP. It currently contributes circa 8% to the UK economy and is also one of the largest employers, with over 2.7 million people working within the sector. CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) estimates that this number is required to grow by 225,000 between 2023 and 2027.

This latest Workforce Foresighting Hub call-to-action report highlights how the adoption of manufacturing led construction will fundamentally change the skill sets required by industry.

Traditionally, materials have been transported to site and assembled in situ, relying heavily on the skills of workers. A manufacturing led methodology would use standardised processes and products, making assembly more efficient and less dependent on individual expertise. Over time, this shift in approach will boost productivity, quality and safety.

It is vital that the UK develops the necessary skills and knowledge to allow this major change to succeed, otherwise the sector will not be able to meet the future demands of the UK government and populace.

The report indicates that the UK construction sector must place an emphasis on both product and process development across the entire supply chain. It also outlines that the Future Occupational Profiles (FOPs) generated by the AI tool currently have low suitability and alignment with current standards and qualifications.

Future Occupational Profiles offer a strategic approach to help bridge the gap between current workforce capabilities and future industry needs.

What does it say?

It highlights that a number of Future Occupational Profiles are not served by the existing training provision to meet the future requirements of the sector. It emphasises the importance in adapting profiles and maintaining collaboration among stakeholders. It suggests aligning existing skills with new demands and focusing on skills development to keep ahead of global competition and manufacturing advancements.

Specific areas of concern

The report identifies several critical areas requiring attention to ensure that the construction industry’s workforce can meet future demands. These areas are based on the comparison of current Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) standards with the Future Occupational Profiles (FOPs). The primary areas of concern highlighted are around the low suitability of existing standards, mismatching of skill requirements, the need for enhanced collaboration, the adaption of training programmes and on feedback and continuous improvement.

The report says that none of the future profiles currently have high levels of suitability and coverage in the current IfATE occupational standards. It is attributed to a lack of construction occupational pathways or standards, focused on the incorporation of manufacturing and offsite principles.

Only 3 out of 23 future profiles have some levels of suitability and partial coverage in the current IfATE occupational standards. Therefore, new standards should ideally be created to support qualifications and training and drive impact on employer workforce planning.

What are the key recommendations?

The report says we must use the Future Occupational Profiles to address skill gaps, update standards and provide CPD courses for current and transitioning workers. It suggests:

• Reskilling and upskilling the current workforce by tailoring content to match new capabilities.
• Recruiting and reskilling individuals with transferable skills from other sectors such as Process and Quality Engineers.
• Integrating future skills training with formalised changes to occupational standards.
• Implementing modular changes to existing educational courses.
• Reviewing IFATE standards and relevant qualifications with employers.
• Commissioning new continuing professional development (CPD) courses.

By addressing these recommended actions, the report aims to ensure that the UK’s construction sector has a skilled workforce that is ready for manufacturing-based production methods.

Where has this skills information come from?

This report developed by the Workforce Foresighting Hub provides an in-depth analysis of the construction sector.

The call-to-action document focuses on the construction sector adopting a manufacturing led approach and highlights the urgent need to:

• Address skills gaps by leveraging Future Occupational Profiles (FOPs).
• Conduct product and process development collaboratively across the entire supply chain.
• Re-analyse the data sets driven by AI with a larger pool of people and increase the amount of sector engagement workshops.
• Develop greater collaboration between different stakeholder groups.
• Continually evaluate future training and educational needs.

This new construction sector study is a collaborative approach involving key stakeholders which is crucial for the success of the UK’s building initiatives.