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INDUSTRYfocus Jobs for the old boys? Where is the next generation of skilled construction professionals going to come from? The Access Group has some suggestions The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) announced a couple of years ago that we are short of about a quarter of a million construction workers in the industry. Figures from YouGov from about the same time said that a mere 3% of youngsters between the ages of 18 and 24 are looking to the construction industry as a profession. And at the Office of National Statistics (ONS) they say that 20% of the construction workforce are over the age of 50, and that figure rises to 58% when you add in the 29-45 age group. These are terrifying numbers for any profession, and if we are to meet the demands for increased housebuilding, upgrading our road and rail infrastructure, and the move to a carbon free economy with all that it entails, we need to address this particular issue urgently. Okay, so the figures might be exacerbated by the fluidity of the 165,000 workers from the EU and other migrants whose 10% of the total workforce have been the backbone of the industry during the current skills shortage, but Brexit regulations have seen this number reduce considerably, and they also constituted a large proportion of the younger workforce. The end result is that 20% of the jobs available within in the industry can't be filled because of a lack of people with the skills to do the job. So why are young people so disinclined to enter the profession, and how can we deal with that? The most widely held belief is that the industry is slow to adapt to modern ideas, such as employing sustainable technologies, or engaging with digitisation, and is still heavily dependent on paper-based systems, and that the work is viewed as a physically demanding 'outside' job. We need to change this urgently and educate and inform both industry leaders and potential recruits to the industry of their responsibilities and opportunities. The crunch falls on the leaders, though, and if they are not up to the job they should look outside the industry and bring in experts and motivators from other industries that have successfully addressed similar problems. INDUSTRY TARGETS The Access Group has identified four targets that should be in everybody's sights if we are to reverse this workforce shortage: Education Construction software Recruitment, training, health and safety Offsite construction EDUCATION IS THE KEY The industry is going through the most exciting phases of its existence. The skills that we need to cope with an evolving planet and its declining resources, a changing workforce, a move towards a zero-carbon technology and a switch to an electrified infrastructure demand the latest technologies. At the same time, we have developed the ability to design and simulate projects in 4D, 5D and beyond, create stunning visualisations of buildings, and carry the accumulated information through to monitor and manage a buildings performance throughout its whole lifespan. The construction industry is designing and building the future for every generation and every country - who would not want to be a part of that? The emphasis has to be on getting that message across in schools, colleges and universities. But you can probably spot the flaw in this proposal. In an industry heavily dominated by older workers, and with a shortfall in boots on the ground, the people entrusted in getting the message across are the ones stepping back from the building site and passing on their outgrown experience to the next generation. CHANGING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES If you can't get the skills - deskill the job! That is essentially what happens when you use offsite and modular building. It facilitates better quality control as the components come off the production line and downgrades the skills of the on-site worker to something 10 January/February 2022
INDUSTRYfocus approaching those required to assemble an IKEA wardrobe. The fine detail and fancy brickwork, the plumbing and electrical systems would remain the province of City & Guild or NVQ qualified craftsmen. The third suggestion is that more opportunities should also be made available to women, who constitute just 12.5% of the workforce, according to the GMB - just 5.4% of whom are BAME. Increased digitisation of software throughout the business, the use of modern plant technologies and more diverse representation in your company will attract more women into roles that extend to the highest levels in leadership, project management, accounting, HR, training, and design. FACILITATING CHANGE The Access Group are highly aware of these issues and attempt to address them within the various modules of their construction industry software. As an enterprise resource planning (ERP) practitioner, the evolving nature of the industry drives their strategies and prompts them to configure solutions that fit their customers' requirements, from pricing in the move to alternative construction technologies, to balancing the evolving skill levels of human resources available for a project. That also means dealing with all of the paraphernalia of recruitment and training within the industry. The increased role of Health & Safety within the industry is long overdue, with its reputation for the greatest number of industrial injuries. Training schemes are also available for the operation of plant and machinery, lorry driving, warehousing, and scaffolding, all backed by CITB Approved Training Organisations. Keeping track of all of these and updating them with changes and inclusions to the regulations are part and parcel of their resource management tools, and The Access Group regularly advise customers of changes that might affect them. This is in addition to the many trades and professions that are involved in the construction industry. Just take a look at Able Skills Training Courses (Ableskills.co.uk) who run a wide range of City & Guilds and NVQ qualification courses - completion of which needs to be recorded in appropriate files and used to assess job suitability and, of course, payment levels. OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION Modular construction and offsite fabrication enable contractors to concentrate on the construction of building components in a structured and controlled environment, where methods of construction and quality levels can be fully monitored and corrected, if necessary. Such factories are perfect environments for the development of construction skills in those entering the profession, and are perhaps a gentler introduction to the processes than a windswept building site on a bit of sloping Lancashire moorland. It also allows builders to experiment with new techniques and technologies and to siphon out imperfections in building methods. Offsite fabrication is also entering the mainstream with some large-scale builders creating their own facilities to handle their modular building methods. These are perfect introductions to the industry where apprentices can gain their spurs before widening their experiences on the building site. As part of its ERP solution, the Access Group can incorporate the demands of offsite fabrication within its construction accounting software, allowing factory production to be assigned to separate projects, as appropriate. Employees on such sites will also be accommodated within the full legal requirements of a normal building site. Motivating potential recruits for the profession doesn't just rely on showing them what a great future there could be within a critically important and forwardlooking profession, but that the backup and personal security that key members in the profession provide is second to none. In 15 years' time the majority of the current Construction workforce will be retiring. This won't just affect your company, but the entire profession. There will be few replacements unless you make it happen. Search for Access Construction to see how they can support your business with construction software. www.theaccessgroup.com/construction January/February 2022 11
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Page 5 and 6: DESIGN WITHOUT LIMITS The best-in-
Page 8 and 9: INDUSTRY news MIXED-REALITY FOR CON
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Page 14 and 15: INDUSTRYcomment Adapt or fail As Eq
Page 16 and 17: INDUSTRY focus Real-time renders En
Page 18 and 19: CASE study A woven façade David Ch
Page 20 and 21: TECHNOLOGYfocus Making the most of
Page 22 and 23: SOFTWAREfocus Update 2, Take 2 What
Page 24 and 25: TECHNOLOGYfocus 4D Planning 4D plan
Page 26 and 27: TECHNOLOGYfocus Harnessing The Atom
Page 28 and 29: INDUSTRY focus Safety first Marek S
Page 30 and 31: EXHIBITIONS Futurebuild 2022: leadi
Page 32 and 33: YOUR GUIDE TO 5 7 2 4 1 3 21 22 23
Page 34 and 35: CASEstudy Rapid 3D scans Trimble la
Page 36: Duke Ellington School of the Arts A

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