Since 2018, the Construction Sector Deal’s main goals have been to drive transformation within the industry, to increase productivity, integrate new and innovative technologies and recruit a skilled workforce.

Of course, with a significant proportion of the past four years since the Deal was introduced having been overtaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, progress in this area will likely have been slowed. Nevertheless, this Deal represents big things for the industry and those working within it.

Below we will take a closer a look at the Construction Sector Deal is and what it means for professionals.

Why was the Construction Sector Deal introduced?

With around 3.1 million people working in the sector and adding around £138bn to the UK economy each year, construction plays a critical role in all of our day to day lives. However, within the government’s Executive Summary of the Construction Sector Deal, it revealed that the sector’s potential was being held back by productivity, which had been historically below that of the wider economy (on average 21% lower since 1997).

The Sector Deal aims to turn the tide on this lower productivity; bringing together businesses from across the sector, their clients, the government and research institutions to ensure the construction industry is able to reach its full potential.

Ultimately, the Deal wants to deliver:

  • A ‘globally-competitive’ sector
  • Lower energy use
  • Better-performing buildings
  • Improved jobs
  • Better value for taxpayers

Reaching these ambitious goals will rely on the following three areas: adopting and implementing digital techniques, manufacturing offsite to reduce wastage and inefficiencies and focus on ‘whole life asset performance’ to ensure costs of a building across its entire life cycle are considered.

Of course, this means huge investment, around £250 million from the sector itself and £170 million from the government.

What does this mean for construction professionals?

The strong focus on the construction sector means significantly more opportunities for construction professionals over the coming years.

Furthermore the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has increased its focus on the future skills required by professionals within the industry, meaning further training opportunities for construction workers to upskill in preparation for future projects.

Want to find out more about the Construction Sector Deal? Take a look here.

Here at We Build Recruitment, we are supporting clients and candidates alike to ensure construction roles are filled by highly-skilled professionals. If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact the team today on 0161 519 8584 or email info@webuildrecruitment.com.