Construction firms open sites to attract talent

The education sector has faced significant cuts during the recession, but this year Britain’s construction firms hope to shine some positive light on their sector to attract much needed talent.

The public is being offered the chance to step behind the scenes of some of the UK’s most exciting construction sites as part of a pilot project. Called Open Doors Weekend, the project aims to demonstrate the importance of construction to both national and regional economies, and the need to make the industry more visible and accessible for an aspiring generation to come.

The scheme will see 23 major construction employers taking part across the country in partnership with four industry bodies: UK Contractors Group (UKCG), CITB – Constructive Skills, The Considerate Constructors Scheme, and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). The sites on display include the Olympics Aquatic Centre by Balfour Beatty, the Tate Modern extension by Mace, and Skanska’s Brent Civic Centre. A total of 91 construction sites across England, Scotland and Wales will be taking part.

Speaking on behalf of the Open Doors Partnership, UKCG director Stephen Ratcliffes said: “Construction is undergoing rapid change and needs to develop a skilled workforce to meet the challenges it faces. Nowadays construction is more about careers than jobs and the expected increase in demand for specialist and management roles in the next few years means that we need quality talent entering the industry now to fill these future positions.

“Open Doors is a unique opportunity for the industry collectively to display the complexity and scope of modern construction projects and give people a taste of what it’s really like to work in the industry today. It’s an exciting initiative which we hope will encourage more people to consider construction as a prospective career with good opportunities.

“The scheme will also allow the industry to engage with local communities and strengthen relationships at a local level. What the public will see is a skilled, sophisticated and progressive industry – the Open Doors weekend will is certain to challenge perceptions.”

The construction industry is an important driver of growth for the UK but, after suffering significantly during the recession, the project hopes to make a strong contribution to the overall economic output, creating unique and long-lasting opportunities.

Syema Majeed