By Harriet Matschy
Thames Valley Business Development Coordinator
In recent weeks, I have been fortunate to have a work experience student join me on the Thames Valley team to support our business development activity while learning about the construction sector and Morgan Sindall’s work in the region.
From conversations during his work experience placement, it struck me that for some students, awareness of opportunities in our industry and what it has to offer school leavers taking the first steps in their career, can be quite low.
Every August, hundreds of thousands of young people open their GCSE and A-Level results and make decisions that shape their professional lives. However, when career conversations happen between students, parents, and teachers, construction is rarely mentioned - even though it’s an industry that needs to recruit over 250,000 extra workers by 2028. When it is mentioned, the whole sector can sometimes be reduced to just a hard hat and a trowel.
This is why it is important to be transparent about the breadth of routes into the sector and the roles it offers. While the trades remain a strong, well-paid option, construction is a multifaceted and complex industry which lends itself to a wide array of interests, skills, and ambitions.
The complexity of modern developments means there’s a range of job roles which may not be immediately obvious on a construction site, as they revolve around functions such as planning, securing work, logistics, compliance, and promoting successful projects – to name just a few. A small selection of potentially under-the-radar disciplines includes site document controller, business development management, marketing officers, procurement, site management, quantity surveying, compliance, and building safety roles.
Like many sectors, construction is adapting to an increasingly digital world as well as the requirement to decarbonise and operate in a more sustainable manner. This has placed an emphasis on specialised roles such as BIM and digital construction, data analysts, coders, drone surveying, sustainability specialists, net zero consultants, and construction software experts.
As the sector knows it needs a strong pipeline of skilled talent if it is to grow and meet the challenges of tomorrow’s built environment, businesses such as Morgan Sindall have been active in creating and supporting practical entry points, giving young people choice in how they get their start in the sector. This could be through T-Levels and apprenticeships for those leaving after GCSEs, degree apprenticeships that enable you to earn while you learn with no student debt for A-Level students, and graduate routes for those going on to study at university.
It does seem that knowledge of the sector is growing among students and young people, with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme recently stating that CSCS-logoed cards issued to workers under the age of 25 have risen by almost 9% in the past two years. The government’s announcement about aligning curriculums with technical subjects to give students a clearer pathway into sectors such as construction, is also hopefully a move in the right direction.
Despite this increased focus on the sector, there are still many outdated perceptions of construction which mean some people may not think it’s right for them. Many of these perceptions I faced growing up, when I didn’t have the knowledge that I now have. This is why it’s important to promote the fact that this is an industry which warrants any school leavers attention, as the more you explore this world the more you will discover the incredibly diverse variety of career options available.
At Morgan Sindall, we’ve been working hard to draw back the curtain and provide pupils with first-hand experience of the sector and insights into the realities of a construction career. An example of this outreach is the Knowledge Quad, a scheme at Morgan Sindall in which live sites are used as educational platforms. In the Thames Valley, our Knowledge Quad at Oxford Brookes University’s Clive Booth Student Village has to date hosted five visits from local schools, engaging a total of 85 students.
These visits were delivered in partnership with Oxfordshire Enterprise and our supply chain partner, Safe Scaffolding. Throughout the sessions, students learned about the wide range of career opportunities available and different routes into the sector. This included hearing from two of our apprentices, who shared their personal experiences and career journeys, helping to bring the industry to life and demonstrate accessible pathways into construction.
These visits have proved popular with pupils and teachers alike, with one teacher telling our Social Value Manager Dennis Owusu that:
It was a really interesting day and the students, and myself during the construction activities, really enjoyed it. It was something very different, plus the organisation and logistics of the day were outstanding, especially as this was the first time for this specific project. The staff that presented during the visit and provided information were exceptional.”
This feedback underlines the impact that initiatives like this have in inspiring young people and increasing awareness of construction careers while strengthening both our engagement with local schools and the pipeline of future talent that our sector needs.
So, if you’re due to open your GCSE or A-Level exam results in the coming weeks, then why not cast an eye over the opportunities in the construction industry, as there might just be something that feels right to you.
If you’re looking for a place to start your search, then the Morgan Sindall careers page is a great resource for trainee, apprenticeship, and graduate schemes.