The UK Construction industry by numbers: Contributes £117 billion to the UK economy, 6% of total economic output Over 2.4 million jobs in the sector, 7% of UK total Over 343,000 construction businesses in the UK, 13% of the total

1. Training & Career
Opportunities in the
Construction Industry
Pathway Group
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS EXCEPTED (E&OE)

2. Construction
industry by
numbers
across the UK
Contributes £117 billion to the UK
economy
6% of total economic output
Over 2.4 million jobs in the sector
7% of UK total
Over 343,000 construction
businesses in the UK
13% of the total

3. Construction
Skills West
Midlands
2019/23
West Midlands’ average growth 2.3%
Average UK growth 1.3%
19,100 new workers needed by 2023
Employment to grow by 5.6%
UK to grow by 2.6
£900m Infrastructure work growth of 10.6%
High-Speed Rail 2 enabling work already
started

4. Government
Construction
Strategy
2016/20
• The Government Construction Strategy plan is to
increase productivity in construction to deliver £1.7
billion efficiencies and support 20,000
apprenticeships over the course of this parliament.
• The strategy sets out ambitions for smarter
procurement, fairer payment, improving digital
skills, reducing carbon emissions, and increasing
client capability. These themes are consistent with
the wider ambitions for industry in Construction
2025 delivered by industry and government
through the Construction Leadership Council.

5. Construction
industry
projects
300,000 new homes
every year
Northern Powerhouse
Rail
The Midlands Rail
Hub
40 new hospitals
Improvement of civic
and cultural
infrastructure.
High-speed Rail 2
(HS2)
Expected new
investment of £100bn
over the next five
years
Constructing West
Midlands 2

6. Combined
Authority area
construction
projects
• New housing accounts for 43% of anticipated
spend
• Private Commercial for 19%
• Infrastructure 16%
• Private Industrial 11%
• Public Non-housing 11%

7. Labour
Demand in the
Black Country
LEP
• Black Country LEP area peaks at around 17,500 people
in 2022
• Around 60% of the workforce is within skilled trades &
operative occupations, the other 40% are within
managerial, professional & office based staff.
• The estimate of labour demand for the skilled trade &
operative occupations for the peak year of 2018 are as
follows:
• The trade occupation for which demand is
highest is wood trades and interior fit out with a
requirement for 1,750 people
• Electrical trades and installation follow with 1,400
people
• Plumbing and heating, ventilation and air
conditioning trades rank third, with a demand of
1,100 people

8. Labour
Demand in the
Greater
Birmingham
and Solihull
LEP
• Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area peaks at
around 102,500 people in 2022
• Around 58% of the workforce are within skilled trades
& operative occupations, the other 42% are within
managerial, professional & office based staff.
• The estimate of labour demand for the skilled trade &
operative occupations for the peak year of 2018 are as
follows:
• The trade occupation for which demand is
highest is wood trades and interior fit out with a
requirement for 10,100 people;
• Electrical trades and installation follow with 7,850
people
• Plumbing and heating, ventilation and air
conditioning trades rank third, with a demand of
6,100 people

9. West Midlands
Output
Forecast
• Construction output in the West Midlands is
forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 1.3%.
• This represents a downgrade from previous years
forecast of a 1.7% annual average gain between
2016 and 2020 period, and lags behind the
expected growth of 1.7% annually at the national
level.
• Employment is expected to grow at an average of
0.4% a year in the until 2021, also marginally
trailing the UK average of 0.6%.
• The annual average recruitment requirement (ARR)
in the region is estimated at 2,800 until 2021. This
represents 1.3% of base 2017 employment.

10. Priority
occupations
for the West
Midlands
• Plasterers & dry liners
• Painters and decorators
• Specialist building operatives
• Bricklayers
• Wood trades and interior fit-out
• Building envelope specialists
• Plumbing and HVAC Trades
• Labourers
• Other construction professionals and technical staff

11. Self-
employment
opportunities
in construction
• The construction sector is unusual because a high
proportion of people working in the sector are self-
employed - many jobs in the sector are contracts to
work on specific projects
• Self-employed jobs in the construction sector
account for 37% of all jobs, almost three times the
proportion in the whole economy (13%)

12. Requirement
for Skilled
Workers
• As the construction industry growing's, enquiries and orders
are increasing for subcontractors and their workforces
• The National Specialist Contractors Council and Federation
of Master Builders (FMB) have reported, that businesses
within the industry, experienced difficulty in recruiting
skilled workers.
• It is quoted, that applicants who are applying for
construction jobs are not skilled enough. This has resulted in
just over 1 in 4 firms having to turn work down.
• The retirement of skilled and experienced workers is
increasing, on average just under 25% of the workforce is
over the age of 50, furthermore 15% of those being in their
sixties.

13. Brexit
• Growing concern throughout the construction
industry that more and more skilled tradespeople
from the EU - who are currently working for
construction companies in the UK will leave the
country due to immigration issues or fears and long
term uncertainly.
• Approximately 10% of the workforce in the UK
construction industry is comprised of migrants, 7%
of whom are EU nationals; that’s more than the
percentage of EU nationals working in all other
industries in the UK.
• With approximately 165,000 construction jobs
currently being filled by EU nationals, the industry
simply cannot afford to lose this contingent.

14. Safety in
Construction
• CSCS cards provide proof that individuals working
on construction sites have the appropriate training
and qualifications for the job they do on site.
• By ensuring the workforce are appropriately
qualified the card plays its part in improving
standards and safety on UK construction sites.
• Holding a CSCS card is not a legislative
requirement.
• It is entirely up to the principal contractor or client
whether workers are required to hold a card before
they are allowed on site.
• However, most principal contractors and major
house builders require construction workers on
their sites to hold a valid card.

15. Construction
Safety Scheme:
Partner Cards
• CSCS works closely with a number of other card
schemes which display the CSCS logo. These are
the Partner Card schemes.
• Partner card schemes represent the very specialist
sectors in construction such as plant, demolition
and scaffolding.
• Partner Card schemes are based on the same
standards as CSCS, requiring cardholders to have a
recognised qualification and pass a health and
safety test.

16. CSCS Cards
(Level 1) Green – Labourer
Card
(Level 2) Blue – Skilled
Worker
(Level 3) Gold – Site
Supervisor

17. Pathway Group
supporting the
Construction
industry
• Pathway Group are supporting the Construction
industry, with accredited, structured training and
education programmes to ensure there are clear
pathways available.
• Working with schools and other training provisions
to give the right advice and guidance, and to teach
the right skills at grassroots.
• Utilising apprenticeships programmes, and
providing a selection of industry recognised and
accredited qualifications to upskill the maturing
workforce

18. Unemployed
Offer (Reskill)
New to Industry
(No Card)
1. Interview & Selection Process
2. Completion of Level 1 Health & Safety Course
3. Issued with Green CSCS Card
4. Placed on temporary contract with employer (National Minimum
Wage)
5. Enrolled onto Level 2 Diploma Course (Workplace Learning)
6. Upon Completion of Level 2 Diploma Course, opportunity to gain
Blue CSCS Card
7. Opportunity to secure permanent employment as a Skilled
Worker

19. Employed Offer
(Upskill)
Skilled in
Industry (Blue
Card)
1. Skilled Worker – Blue CSCS Card
2. Enrolled onto Level 3 NVQ Diploma in
Occupational Work Supervision (Workplace Learning)
3. Upon Completion of Level 3 Diploma Course,
opportunity to gain Gold CSCS Card
4. Opportunity to secure permanent employment as
a Site Supervisor

20. Qualifications Available
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in
Occupational Work
Supervision
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in
Wood Occupations
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in
Cladding Occupations
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in
Decorative Finishing -
Painting and Decorating
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in
Plastering
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Wood Occupations
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Cladding Occupations
Level 2 NVQ Diploma In
Plastering
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Interior Systems
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Associated Industrial
Services Occupations
Passive Fire Protection
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Trowel Occupations
Level 2 NVQ Certificate
in Curtain Wall
Installation
Level 2 NVQ Certificate
in Insulation and
Building Treatments
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Formwork
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Fenestration Installation
Level 2 NVQ Certificate
in Wall and Floor Tiling
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Decorative Finishing and
Industrial Painting
Occupations
Level 2 NVQ Certificate
in Interior Systems
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in
Construction Operations
and Civil Engineering

21. Skilled Construction Trades
Acousticsconsultant
• Acoustics consultants help manage
and control noise and vibrations in
homes, workplaces and other
environments.
•Architect
• Architects design new buildings and
the spaces around them, and work
on the restoration and conservation
of existing buildings.
•Architectural technician
• Architectural technicians work closely
with architectural teams on the
design process of building projects.
•Architectural technologist
• Architectural technologists manage
all stages of the technical design and
planning process of building projects.
•Bricklayer
• Bricklayers build houses, repair walls
and chimneys, and refurbish
decorative stonework. They also
work on restoration projects.
•Builders' merchant
• Builders' merchants sell building and
do-it-yourself products and materials
to the building trade and the public.
•Building control officer
• Building control officers make sure
building regulations are followed.
•Building services engineer
• Building services engineers design,
install and service equipment and
systems in buildings like offices and
shops.
•Building site inspector
• Building site inspectors check the
quality and safety of construction
work.
•Building surveyor
• Building surveyors advise clients
about the design, construction,
maintenance and repair of buildings.
•Building technician
• Building technicians support
engineers, surveyors and architects
on construction projects.
•Carpenter
• Carpenters and joiners make and
install wooden structures, fittings
and furniture.
•Carpet fitter and floor layer
• Carpet fitters and floor layers fit
carpets and vinyl tiles, and lay
laminate and solid timber floors.
•Cavity insulation installer
• Cavity insulation installers fit
insulation and soundproofing
materials in buildings.
•Ceiling fixer
• Ceiling fixers fit suspended ceilings in
buildings to cover up pipework,
wiring, and heating and air
conditioning systems.
•Civil engineer
• Civil engineers design and manage
construction projects, from bridges
and buildings to transport links and
sports stadiums.
•Civil engineering technician
• Civil engineering technicians give
technical support to engineers on
construction projects.
•Commercial energy assessor
• Commercial energy assessors test
how energy-efficient commercial
buildings are and produce Non-
Domestic Energy Performance
Certificates.
•Constructioncontracts
manager
• Construction contracts managers
manage building contracts and
construction costs.
•Constructionlabourer
• Construction labourers prepare
building and civil engineering sites
and carry out manual jobs once work
starts.
•Constructionmanager
• Construction managers organise the
work on building projects, making
sure it's completed safely, within
budget and on time.
•Constructionplant hire adviser
• Construction plant hire advisers rent
out plant machinery, tools and
equipment to builders and the public.
•Constructionplant mechanic
• Construction plant mechanics make
sure that heavy plant machinery like
diggers and dumper trucks is well
maintained and working safely.
•Constructionplant operator
• Construction plant operators work
with machinery and equipment used
on building sites.
•Constructionsite supervisor
• Construction site supervisors manage
staff and subcontractors on building
sites.
•Crane driver
• Crane drivers operate lifting
machinery on construction, quarrying
and mining sites, at ports and in
warehouses.
•Demolition operative
• Demolition operatives dismantle
buildings and structures, remove
hazardous materials, and carry out
salvage operations.
•Domestic energy assessor
• Domestic energy assessors (DEAs)
work out the energy efficiency of
domestic buildings like houses and
flats.
•Dry liner
• Dry liners use plasterboard panels to
build internal walls, suspended
ceilings and raised flooring in houses,
offices and shops.
•Electrician
• Electricians fit, service and fix
electrical equipment, circuits,
machinery and wiring.
•Electricity distribution worker
• Electricity distribution workers
maintain and repair the power lines
that connect homes and businesses
to the national grid.
•Engineering construction
craftworker
• Engineering construction
craftworkers fit and repair machinery
and equipment on structures ranging
from oil rigs to sports stadiums.
•Engineering construction
technician
• Engineering construction technicians
install, service and repair machines
and equipment in buildings, factories
and industrial plants.
•Estimator
• Estimators work out how much it will
cost for a company to supply
products and services to its clients.
•Facilities manager
• Facilities managers oversee the
operation and maintenance of
building systems and services.
•Fence installer
• Fence installers fit and repair fences
and gates.
•Gas mains layer
• Gas mains layers install and maintain
the pipelines that supply homes and
businesses with gas.
•Gas service technician
• Gas service technicians install, service
and repair gas appliances and heating
systems.
•General practice surveyor
• General practice surveyors are
involved in the management,
valuation, buying, selling and
development of land and property.
•Glazier
• Glaziers install and repair glass in
houses, hotels, offices and shops.
•Heating and ventilation
engineer
• Heating and ventilation engineers
install and service heating and air
conditioning in large buildings like
factories, schools and hospitals.
•Heritage officer
• Heritage officers support teams to
take care of buildings, monuments
and places valued for their cultural
and historical importance.
•Kitchen and bathroomfitter
• Kitchen and bathroom fitters install
kitchens and bathroom suites in
homes and businesses.
•Land and propertyvaluer and
auctioneer
• Valuers and auctioneers advise
individuals and businesses that buy,
sell and rent land and property.
•Land surveyor
• Land surveyors measure the shape of
the land, and gather data for civil
engineering and construction
projects.
•Landscaper
• Landscapers create and maintain
gardens, parks and other outdoor
and indoor areas.
•Mechanical engineering
technician
• Mechanical engineering technicians
design, install and repair industrial
plant machinery and parts.
•Paint sprayer
• Paint sprayers apply coatings and
protective finishes to cars, vans,
motorbikes and other vehicles.
•Painter and decorator
• Painters and decorators prepare and
apply paint, wallpaper and finishes to
different surfaces.
•Pipe fitter
• Pipe fitters install industrial
pipework, valves and pumps in
factories, commercial premises and
large buildings like power stations.
•Planning and development
surveyor
• Planning and development surveyors
assess, design and manage
development projects in towns, cities
and rural areas.
•Plasterer
• Plasterers prepare walls and ceilings
for decoration and finishing.
•Plumber
• Plumbers fit and service hot and cold
water systems, heating systems and
drainage networks.
•Quantitysurveyor
• Quantity surveyors oversee
construction projects, managing risks
and controlling costs.
•Quarry engineer
• Quarry engineers explore new sites,
oversee extraction operations and
manage sites at the end of their
commercial life.
•Quarry worker
• Quarry workers dig out and process
rock, slate, gravel and sand from
quarries or mines.
•Refrigeration and air-
conditioninginstaller
• Refrigeration and air-conditioning
installers work on air quality and
cooling systems in buildings and
transport.
•Road worker
• Road workers build and repair roads
and motorways.
•Roofer
• Roofers re-slate and tile roofs, fit
skylight windows and replace lead
sheeting and cladding.
•Rural surveyor
• Rural surveyors value the assets of
farms and estates, advise clients on
legal and tax issues, and plan and
develop land use.
•Scaffolder
• Scaffolders put up and take down
scaffolding on buildings that allows
workers to work safely at height.
•Shopfitter
• Shopfitters make and install fixtures
and fittings in offices, restaurants,
shops and bars.
•Steel erector
• A steel erector assembles the metal
framework of new buildings, and
structures like bridges and tunnels.
•Steel fixer
• Steel fixers install and tie together
the steel bars and mesh used to
strengthen concrete on construction
projects.
•Steeplejack
• Steeplejacks carry out repairs on
buildings and structures to make
them safe.
•Stonemason
• Stonemasons carve blocks of stone,
and lay and fit stonework into place
on construction projects.
•Structural engineer
• Structural engineers help to design
and build large structures and
buildings, like hospitals, sports
stadiums and bridges.
•Technical surveyor
• Technical surveyors carry out tasks to
support chartered surveyors,
architects and engineers.
•Thatcher
• Thatchers use traditional craft skills,
materials and tools to replace and
repair thatched roofs.
•Thermal insulation engineer
• Thermal insulation engineers install
insulating materials around pipes,
boilers and ductwork in factories and
buildings.
•Tiler
• Tilers tile walls and floors in kitchens,
bathrooms, shops, hotels and
restaurants.
•Town planner
• Town planners help shape the way
towns and cities develop, and
balance the demands on land with
the needs of the community.
•Town planning assistant
• Town planning assistants process
applications, give advice about
regulations and carry out design work
and office administration.
•Water network operative
• Water network operatives look after
the pipes, mains and pumping
stations that supply homes and
businesses with water.
•Welder
• Welders join, cut and shape metal
plate, pipework and composite
materials in industries like aerospace,
construction and civil engineering.
•Window fitter
• Window fitters install windows,
conservatories and glazed curtain
walls in homes and businesses.
•Wood machinist
• Wood machinists cut and prepare
timber for use in wood products.