MIPIM | Embracing new tech a ‘win-win’ amid dwindling skills, says framework boss

The construction industry is wary of an widening skills gap, with an ageing talent pool and more workers leaving the industry than joining, the future of construction needs the industry to adapt and act now, according to Caroline Compton-James, deputy chief executive of SCAPE.

“We know that we don’t have enough young people joining the industry”, she said, adding that skills, particularly within the housing sector, should be rethought at different levels.

The skills shortage was a recurring theme at MIPIM.

According to CITB, the industry training board for the construction sector in England, Scotland, and Wales there is a need for an extra 251,500 construction workers by 2028 to meet the expected demand.

In the North West specifically, 23,850 extra workers are needed by 2028.

SCAPE’s ‘Charter for Change’, published after the General Election, states the need to accelerate the development of smarter, greener technology by incentivising vertical partnerships between industry, schools, higher education, and vocational skills providers as a way of repositioning the industry to make it more attractive for new talent.

Much of the discussion around skills at MIPIM has been around utilising alternative pipelines and harnessing changing supply-chain dynamics to build expertise in new ways.

To bring more young people into the industry, Compton-James said, firms should look at emerging technologies, such as AI, to help change the face of construction, a career path often disregarded by the UK’s younger employment market.

She said: “It’s not just about boots on the ground, if we can sell construction in a positive light around digital transformation technologies, we might encourage more diverse people into the industry.”

Compton-James was keen to point out that innovation, such as the use of modern methods of construction and modular platform approaches, offers untapped opportunities for younger people to develop the industry’s critical skills.

She said: “The more we can build in factories, where we can quality assure, we can bring skills in that way – and again we might be able to tap into talent that comes in through manufacturing.”

In addition, the creation of digital asset bases, or digital twins, which would enable the digitalisation of estates, would provide an accurate and alterable record of a local authority’s assets, Compton-James said.

“Using those digital skills, as well as drones flying to take images, that perhaps some more traditional people in the industry may not embrace, I think could encourage young people [into the industry].

“That will also have the benefit of making it cheaper and more efficient to look after an existing asset base.”

Calling the solution a “win-win” she added that digital asset management programs would “help rationalise how you invest and where you invest”.

As a public sector procurement organisation, owned by six local authority shareholders, SCAPE has saved more than £100m through accelerated procurement.

Compton-James added: “It’s incumbent upon us to think about how we operate our business wisely, but also the value that best-in-class procurement can bring, so we can generate savings and efficiencies for our public sector clients.”

At MIPIM, SCAPE was keen to learn about what the rest of the world is doing to address the skills issue.

“Coming to MIPIM is a privilege – it’s an opportunity to listen to some world-class leaders talk about what they see as opportunities, globally, and to take some of the learning from that.

“You can’t ignore the opportunity to meet with clients and partners, and to come together to collaborate and to find solutions to drive more value for the public sector.”