SCI Co-CEO Tim Whitehill recently joined leading industry figures at a BE News and RICS roundtable to discuss one of the construction sector’s most pressing challenges – how to attract, develop and retain the talent needed to deliver the UK’s future infrastructure and housing ambitions.
The discussion focused on the significant skills shortages facing the built environment, with nearly half of respondents to the RICS UK Construction Monitor identifying skills gaps as a major issue. Panellists explored a range of solutions, including stronger collaboration between industry and academia, investment in apprenticeships, widening career pathways and embracing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
During the debate, Tim highlighted the disconnect that often exists between higher education and industry in the UK. Drawing on his experience as a visiting professor at Stuttgart University in Germany, he emphasised the value of closer integration between academia and practice, where industry professionals remain actively involved in shaping education and future talent pipelines.
“There is a disconnect between industry and academia in the UK. Universities can be the absolute hub of our industry.” – Tim Whitehill
The roundtable also reinforced the importance of looking beyond traditional recruitment routes and considering career changers, apprentices and people with transferable skills from other sectors. Participants agreed that closing the skills gap will require systemic collaboration across government, industry, professional institutions and education providers.
For SCI, the conversation highlighted an important message, addressing the skills challenge is not simply about filling today’s vacancies, but about building a more resilient, diverse and future-ready construction workforce.
As the industry works towards delivering ambitious housing and infrastructure targets, creating stronger connections between education and practice will be essential to ensuring the sector has the people and skills needed to thrive in the years ahead.