Built environment experts highlight collaboration as key to competency

The event brought together representatives from the Construction Industry Council, the Construction Leadership Council, the Technical Apprenticeships Consortium and the Supply Chain Sustainability School with built environment employers, professional bodies, regulators, training providers, educational institutions and Government officials all present. The aim was to share innovative strategies and Best Practice for educating and upskilling the sector’s workforce to ensure competence, increase capacity and enhance capability.

Developing an adaptable workforce

The value in training workforces holistically was the focus of the opening presentation by Tony Ellender, professional development manager for Balfour Beatty UK, who described how the firm integrates various competencies, from accredited technical and professional qualifications through to leadership skills in its team members.

Balfour Beatty UK has introduced initiatives such as a ‘Military Talent Pathway’ for veterans and structured career progression for all. Ellender concluded by noting that collaboration, both internal and external, is crucial in helping Balfour Beatty UK to address skills gaps and enable career transitions across its business.

Jon Vanstone, chair of the Building Safety Regulator’s Industry Competence Committee, emphasised the importance of elevating competence in the building industry. Highlighting the tragic consequences of inadequate safety standards, Vanstone underscored the need for a culture of excellence, not just compliance.

The Industry Competence Committee aims to bridge industry and regulatory gaps, promoting continuous improvement and accountability. Through initiatives such as specialist Working Groups and stringent competence requirements, the Industry Competence Committee supports the industry in ensuring safe and resilient buildings constructed with integrity.

Paradigm shift

Dale Sinclair, chair of the Construction Industry Council’s Digital Forum, discussed the impending paradigm shift in the construction industry, itself driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), modern methods of construction and the need to achieve Net Zero. Sinclair stressed the importance of data integration, the human-AI interface and the move towards refurbishing buildings rather than demolishing them.

The three speakers’ comments segued into a panel discussion chaired by Ashley Wheaton, vice-chancellor of the University College of Estate Management, and focused around the event’s key themes of ‘Competency’, ‘Capability’ and ‘Capacity’.

Ruth Devine MBE, chair of the Electrotechnical Skills Partnership, advocated for relevant and robust training aligned with occupational standards, advising awarding bodies, Government agencies and educational institutions alike to listen to employers. “Don’t assume you’re acting in their interests. Instead, meaningfully engage and represent them. You might hear uncomfortable truths, but we need that to develop clear pathways of competence that work.”

Jon Vanstone concurred, arguing that the key to meeting the sector’s skills challenges is co-operation. Too often, noted Vanstone, the content of training and education is developed in isolation from employers and contractors, for example, who have the practical experience of construction, design and installation. He called for transparent communication, collaboration and a commitment to upholding the highest standards in every project.

Tony Ellender, who had covered similar topics when speaking earlier in the day, explained: “The best way in which to make employees leave is to not train them. There’s only one thing worse than training someone and they leave: not training them and they stay.”

Ellender also suggested that employers need to think beyond their staff and focus on the competence of those in their supply chain if they’re to deliver truly safe and sustainable buildings.

Holly Hansen-Maughan, sector manager for retrofit and the future workforce at the Supply Chain Sustainability School and an expert in sustainability and green skills, picked up on Ellender’s thoughts and called for commonality within the industry to address future skills.

Hansen-Maughan described the role of the Supply Chain Sustainability School in upskilling the workforce, underlining the importance of collective decision-making and the integration of education partners in order to align training.

Importance of education

Mina Hasman, chair of the Construction Industry Council’s Climate Change Committee, talked about the importance of education as the foundation for building skills and awareness across the industry. Hasman argued the need for collaboration across the value chain and consistent learning to influence actions.

“Education is crucial for building base-level knowledge and influencing behaviours across the industry,” noted Hasman. “Collaboration is a must for us to accelerate the pace and scale of change needed for climate resilience.”

Topics covered less frequently in discussions around skills and training were also touched upon, among them the need for financial literacy across the built environment workforce.

Addressing the event via a pre-recorded video, Mark Farmer (author of The Farmer Review, an influential appraisal of the UK’s construction labour model entitled ‘Modernise or Die’) gave his thought-provoking perspectives on the topics under discussion.

Farmer elucidated the ‘skills gap’ in construction, namely the mismatch between required capabilities and those possessed by the workforce. This mismatch is particularly relevant in the context of green initiatives and regulatory reforms. Falmer duly observed: “The Building Safety Act 2022 and the need for high-performing buildings mean that people are having to learn different approaches to their role.”

He also discussed the concept of ‘role and competence inflation’ where the high demand for skills in a labour-scarce market leads to individuals being promoted beyond their competencies. This trend poses significant risks, especially so in senior management roles and potentially compromising project outcomes. “If people are not competent to perform senior roles then the impact and legacy that leaves on projects downstream can be massive,” asserted Farmer.

Falmer concluded by emphasising the importance of a dual approach to training within the industry, combining professional training and education regimes with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes. This approach is vital in an era of rapid regulatory and technological changes. “The need to keep that currency of your professional competence through CPD is going to become more important,” stressed Falmer.

What’s more, Farmer also suggested that the ‘policing’ of CPD might need to become more stringent to ensure its effectiveness.

Collaborative approaches to upskilling

Aled Williams, chair of the Construction Industry Council’s Education and Future Skills Committee who provided the opening remarks on the day, commented: “This event has highlighted the pressing need for an integrated approach to education and skills development within the construction and built environment sectors. The insights and strategies shared underline the importance of aligning educational programmes with the practical requirements of the industry.”

Williams concluded: “At the Construction Industry Council’s Education and Future Skills Committee, we are committed to driving forward initiatives that ensure our workforce is equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to meet current and future challenges. Collaboration among all stakeholders is essential in building a resilient and adaptable industry.”