FMB Building Conference: Empowering people, achieving success in construction
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In this session Eddie Tuttle (Director of Policy, Research and Public Affairs, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)), Jackie Ducker (Executive Director - Customer & Product, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)), Luke Emery (2021 Master Builder Awards Apprentice of the Year, Lowry Building & Civil Engineering), Shenaaz Chenia (CEO, YouthBuild Ventures UK) and Amos Simbo (Founder, BPIC Network (Built Environment Inclusion) explore initiatives to empower and attract diverse talent into the construction sector.
Reversing the skills shortage was hot on the agenda at the FMB’s 2022 Building Conference. As an industry, how can we empower people to choose construction as a career?
Over the next 10-15 years, we can expect 33% of the current workforce to retire, with a shortfall in the number of young people entering construction. Key to this is making sure construction is open to everyone – and much needs to be done:
- Just 6% of the workforce are people of colour.
- Women are under-represented, making up just 14% of the construction workers (and only 2% on the tools.
- 14% are registered disabled under the Equality Act.
(Data via CITB)
A panel of industry stakeholders and experts took to the stage to discuss what is being done and what needs to improve.