It has commissioned professional services company EY to review the local construction market and bring forward a series of recommendations for talent intervention.

Construction Industry Futures has now published the Skills Review which identifies what it considers the six most effective interventions for boosting Northern Ireland’s construction skills. They are:

To establish a Construction Skills Forum between education, government and industry, sponsored by an independent organisation, to meet regularly to address key industry issues with a focus on skills;

A review of the apprenticeship delivery model and ensure that apprenticeships are delivered in the most appropriate and beneficial way:

• Skills alignment through more effective engagement by and with educators, including private training providers, to achieve alignment to the necessary on-site skills through effective skills gap analysis, future planning, and more flexible learning opportunities.
• To review pay and rewards packages within the industry and promote Northern Ireland as an attractive employment market to local employees.
• To encourage technical skills development and minimise the impact of trades shortages by ensuring technical skills training is widely available for all.
• To partner with primary and secondary schools to boost the awareness of construction as an attractive career path through the improved targeting of students, and provision of career advice.

Commenting on the Skills Review, Mark Spence, managing director of the Construction Employers Federation said: “As with every other sector of our economy, the construction industry is facing a time of great change. Key drivers such as the green economy and net zero as well as the increasing roles for digitisation, AI and software development in construction and manufacturing processes mean that we cannot afford to stand still.

“However, in moving to proactively deal with these changes and make the most out of the opportunities they represent, the single biggest threat we currently have is an acute shortage of new skills and talent entering the construction industry.”