For its first meeting with Malcolm Lewis, Commercial Director at the Great Grid Upgrade as chair, the Constructing Excellence Major Projects Group explored how the industry can attract, develop and retain the workforce needed to deliver the UK’s major infrastructure pipeline. The discussion focused on skills shortages, future demand, education and training, and the need for a stronger, more inclusive careers narrative.
Key takeaways
- Skills are now a critical delivery challenge for major projects, with major infrastructure programmes requiring stronger workforce planning, better data, clearer career pathways and closer collaboration across clients, suppliers, educators and government.
- The sector needs to attract a wider and more diverse talent pool, including young people, career changers, people with transferable skills and those from adjacent sectors, while better explaining the breadth of roles available beyond traditional site-based or engineering careers.
- Changing perceptions of construction and infrastructure is essential, particularly among young people, parents and teachers, by promoting hands-on engagement, relatable role models, clear salary and progression information, and a stronger shared narrative about meaningful careers in the built environment.
Major infrastructure demand
National Grid highlighted the scale of the Great Grid Upgrade, with major investment planned across electricity transmission and distribution and tens of thousands of new roles expected across the supply chain. Participants agreed that better workforce data, clearer career pathways, common skills standards and closer collaboration between clients, suppliers, government and education providers will be essential.
Widening the talent pool
The group discussed the need to reach a wider talent pool, including young people, career changers, people leaving the armed forces or emergency services, and those with transferable skills from adjacent sectors. The conversation also challenged narrow perceptions of construction, recognising that major projects need digital, commercial, planning, logistics, leadership and communication skills as well as technical and site-based expertise.
Training and skills pathways
Anglian Water shared its Collaborative Skills Programme with the College of West Anglia, which used alliance gainshare funding to support local training, apprenticeships and new skills pathways. The model has helped strengthen the regional skills pipeline and has since expanded into areas including green skills, commercial capability, contract management and inclusive leadership.
Changing perceptions
A strong theme was the need to change how the industry communicates with young people, parents and teachers. Participants called for more practical engagement, site visits, relatable role models, clearer salary information and better explanations of career progression to show that construction and infrastructure offer meaningful, varied and well-paid careers. Constructing Change are doing great work in this space.
Role for Constructing Excellence
The session reinforced that skills are now a critical delivery issue for major projects. Constructing Excellence has an important role to play in convening clients, suppliers, educators and younger professionals through G4C, sharing good practice and supporting a more coordinated, inclusive and compelling story for careers in the built environment.
