Why we need a built environment GCSE to inspire the next generation of professionals

Changes to the planning system, a revamped housing department and a concerted effort to tackle nimbyism: Labour has had a busy first few weeks in office as it bids to speed up the delivery of much needed housing and infrastructure.

But, without a skills base – surveyors, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, engineers etc – the government will struggle to meet its 1.5 million-home target and deliver our country’s £800bn infrastructure pipeline. We therefore need a revolution in how we attract talent to the industry and ensure that construction remains a desirable career path in a digital-first world.

In July, Kier Starmer announced the launch of Skills England – a new body that aims to “bring together central and local government, businesses, training providers and unions to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions, providing strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system aligned to the government’s industrial strategy”.

Given the sheer volume of workers who have seemingly decided to take flight from the UK of late, it was rather fitting that the new prime minister decided to launch Skills England at this year’s Farnborough airshow.

A shortage of skilled workers in the built environment industry has led to a growing gap between the demand for infrastructure development and the available workforce

Construction is a substantial part of the UK economy, accounting for £110bn in GVA, 7% of GDP and employing more than two million people. Construction and infrastructure not only fuel growth and create jobs but they regenerate communities through sustainable placemaking.

A shortage of skilled workers in the built environment industry has led to a growing gap between the demand for infrastructure development and the available workforce. The consequences include delays and increased costs for construction projects and limits to the sector’s capability to meet the demand for new housing and infrastructure.

Brexit, a sharp drop in apprenticeship starts and spiralling retirement rates have combined to create the perfect storm for Britain’s acute skills crisis. Research from the Construction Industry Training Board predicts that, by 2028, the construction industry will require an extra 251,000 workers to meet expected levels of employment. That s a worrying statistic, given that there has been a net decrease in the size of the industry’s workforce for the past five years in a row.

Our own research at the RICS, conducted as part of our quarterly Construction Monitor, revealed recently that, while demand increases and market sentiment recovers, difficulties in sourcing skilled labour – particularly quantity surveyors and builders - is still one of the biggest barriers to growth, with 44% of our respondents highlighting it as a factor in growth and delivery.

One transformative solution would be to … create an English built environment GCSE, to inspire the next generation of professionals

When considering these factors, it is clear to see why the creation of Skills England has been welcomed by so many within the construction industry. The body mirrors our own calls for the creation of a cross-department skills taskforce, responsible for identifying gaps and opportunities in the workforce, and increased funding for training schemes and apprenticeships to encourage individuals to build skills in modern construction practices and digital technology.

But more could and should be done. As policymakers and civil servants begin to prepare for the launch of Skills England, it is important they do not focus on levy-only solutions, and instead take a root and branch approach. One transformative solution would be to implement the House of Lords’ built environment committee recommendation to create an English built environment GCSE, to inspire the next generation of professionals.

Labour has pegged its success to delivering economic growth and development, and addressing the skills crisis will be of vital importance if they want to win a second term. Kier Starmer and his team have got off to a flying start but, as we all know, momentum is everything in politics.

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