Universities team up with industry to solve construction skills shortage
Subscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest construction and civil engineering news.
The UK construction industry is facing a critical skills shortage that threatens to derail national ambitions for housing, infrastructure and economic resilience. As demand for new homes accelerates and older workers exit the workforce in increasing numbers, the construction sector is struggling to replenish its talent pipeline quickly enough. In response, a new alliance between academia and industry is offering a model for the future. This model blends technical education with real-world supply chain experience to build a smarter and more sustainable workforce.
A Workforce Shortfall at a Dangerous Scale
According to the Construction Industry Training Board, the UK needs approximately 48,000 additional construction workers each year through 2030. The industry’s traditional workforce is ageing rapidly, with nearly a third of its skilled employees expected to retire within the next decade. Meanwhile, national housing targets remain ambitious. With the government aiming to build 1.5 million homes over five years, the workforce shortfall has become a national issue.
Construction activity is already under pressure. Recent data from the Home Builders Federation shows that housing starts have declined, not because of reduced demand, but due to the limited availability of qualified labour. Trade unions and building firms have raised concerns about the widening gap between workforce supply and project requirements. These challenges are particularly evident in specialised roles such as procurement, digital planning and site management.
Although government initiatives are underway, including a £3 billion apprenticeship fund and the rollout of regional Construction Skills Hubs, many believe that more integrated and future-facing solutions are necessary.
A Collaborative Model Emerges
One such solution is taking shape in Greater Manchester. The University of Salford has partnered with national housebuilder Barratt Developments and consultancy firm Cube Thinking. Their aim is to address the construction and housebuilding skills gap not only by training tradespeople but also by rethinking how education interacts with the supply chain.
This initiative focuses on areas often overlooked in traditional vocational training. Strategic procurement, capacity planning and data-informed decision-making are at the heart of the program. These skills are vital for modern construction, especially for firms that need to scale while maintaining environmental and regulatory compliance.
Rather than relying solely on classroom learning, the program introduces students to live challenges within the housebuilding supply chain. A spokesperson from the University of Salford stated that students are being prepared to operate in a highly complex ecosystem. This involves understanding how procurement decisions influence timelines, budgets and sustainability outcomes.
The partnership illustrates a broader shift in the education sector. Universities are increasingly expected to act not only as academic institutions but also as engines of workforce development aligned with regional and national priorities.
Bridging the Gap Between Learning and Doing
One of the main issues in construction skills development is the lack of practical, on-site experience for new entrants. Apprenticeship programs often suffer from under-enrolment and may struggle to keep pace with the rapid digital transformation underway in the sector. Modern construction sites require skill sets that go beyond manual labour, including familiarity with Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital compliance tools and sustainability software.
The Salford-Barratt-Cube initiative attempts to close this gap by embedding students in active industry projects. This allows them to experience the complexities of procurement and project management first-hand. The program acknowledges that construction is no longer a purely manual profession. It is becoming increasingly data-driven, supply-chain oriented and environmentally focused.
Government policy appears to be moving in a similar direction. The Department for Education has outlined plans for Degree Apprenticeships that combine academic study with full-time industry placements. Backed by leading construction firms, these hybrid models are beginning to gain traction as employers seek recruits who can contribute immediately.
Building Smarter Supply Chains
While skilled trades are essential, there is an equally serious shortage in roles that support and coordinate construction projects. Procurement officers, logistics planners and operations managers are now central to delivering homes and infrastructure on time and within budget.
The Salford initiative is notable for its emphasis on these behind-the-scenes roles. Training students in supply chain strategy and data-informed planning provides the industry with much-needed capabilities that are difficult to automate or outsource.
As construction moves toward modular systems and just-in-time delivery models, strategic coordination becomes even more essential. Educating for these functions now could help prevent bottlenecks and cost overruns in the future.
The Path Forward
As the UK economy looks to recover and expand its housing stock, the availability of skilled construction workers will be a critical success factor. Partnerships like the one formed by Salford University, Barratt Developments and Cube Thinking represent a shift toward more sustainable and practical training systems.
They also raise an important question about the evolving role of universities. Should higher education institutions take a more active role in solving sector-specific challenges? If the answer is yes, construction may be just the first sector to benefit. The approach of linking academic insight with industry demand could be applied to a wide range of national priorities, from retrofitting for energy efficiency to large-scale infrastructure resilience.
Improving the UK’s construction workforce is not just about hiring more people. It also depends on better training systems, more relevant education models and stronger coordination between industry and education. The Greater Manchester initiative is a practical example of how this can work.
Sources: