Skills England aims to address worker shortages with more modern construction methods.
- A new report highlights the need for 252,000 additional workers by 2028.
- MMC has shown potential in improving efficiency by up to 50%.
- Offsite construction methods have faced challenges despite government support.
- New strategies for apprenticeships will focus on younger workers.
Skills England, a newly established government body, is focusing on expanding the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) to tackle substantial labour shortages within the construction industry. As the sector prepares to meet ambitious targets of delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2030, a considerable expansion of MMC could be pivotal in addressing productivity issues and workforce demands.
The report reveals that to achieve the demanding housebuilding agendas, an additional 252,000 workers will be required between 2024 and 2028. This need is further compounded by the necessity to construct new infrastructure in transport, social, commercial, educational, and health facilities, alongside growing demands in the energy and water sectors requiring specialised roles.
MMC holds the promise of reducing dependency on skilled labour pools while significantly enhancing productivity. Notably, a Birmingham development utilising MMC for a 430-home site documented a 50% increase in efficiency. However, the prevalence of MMC remains limited, necessitating substantial adoption to significantly influence the current workforce requirements.
Despite government advocacy for offsite construction methods, primarily from 2019 onwards, the practical execution has been limited, facing criticism for a lack of coherent strategy and investment. Several companies specialising in this area have closed, highlighting the fragile nature of this endeavour.
Mark Farmer, appointed MMC champion under the previous government, stressed clarity in what constitutes MMC, recognising volumetric modular housing as struggling in market penetration. He advocates for hybrid pre-manufacturing methods, such as panellised and podded solutions, which have seen more success due to their alignment with existing industry directions.
Skills England is also spearheading reforms in the apprenticeship system, now to be known as the growth and skills levy. This overhaul will allow shorter and targeted apprenticeships, focusing on younger entrants into the workforce, a shift from the traditional 12-month minimum duration. This change aims to better utilise the levy contributions, which firms previously found challenging to draw upon effectively.
Embracing innovative construction methods and modernised workforce training is essential for addressing the challenges facing the UK construction sector.
