The future workforce - culture change and skill go under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London

The UK construction industry is facing a severe skills shortage, with over 140,000 job vacancies stalling essential housing and infrastructure projects. This will form a key thread for talks and workshops at UK Construction Week London (Excel, 12-14 May), alongside a deep dive into the ongoing culture change which is needed to attract young talent into the sector.

The Culture Change & Skills Stage at UK Construction Week (UKCW) is a dedicated hub aimed at addressing the construction industry's most pressing human-centric challenges, including workforce shortages, the need for new skills, and the adoption of a more inclusive and safer work culture.

New to UKCW London this year, visitors can build their own agenda, tailored to their job role, sector and interests.

The packed schedule of CPD-accredited talks on the Culture Change & Skills Stage includes:

Tuesday May 12th, 12.30pm

• Promoting Purpose, Progression and Pride: Bringing the Next Generation into Construction - How stronger storytelling can help construction connect with the next generation by showcasing purpose, clear career progression, and pride in the work the industry delivers. Panellists: Dan Hinsley (Retinue Solutions); Kim Kerr (Hilti Northern Europe); Tim Balcon (CITB)

Wednesday May 13th, 11.30am

• The Inclusion Newsroom: Breaking News, Breaking Bias - A fast-paced, newsroom-style live show uncovering the real state of inclusion in construction — using live findings from the industry-wide “Inclusive Leadership” survey Panellists: TBC

Thursday May 14th, 11.45am

• Building the Future Workforce: closing the construction skills gap - The discussion will focus on practical ways to engage young people, create inclusive and diverse career pathways, and ensure the workforce of the future has the skills needed to deliver a more sustainable built environment. Panellists: Faith Abudu (Diversity & Inclusion in Construction); Fiona Henderson (Mace Group); Jess Hart (Future For All); Prince Sithole (Jackson Civil Engineering); Vicky Cole (Retinue Solutions)

What’s more, the stage will also host the announcement of the shortlist for this year’s UKCW Role Models (Thursday May 14th, 12.40pm) across all three categories - Rising Star, Pioneer and Icon - and will include a glimpse of some of the exceptional work of the individuals shortlisted.

Sam Patel, Divisional Director, UK Construction Week London, commented: “Our own research has shown that the construction industry suffers from an image problem, and culture change plays a key part in turning that around - vital if we are to close the skills gap needed to help the industry flourish. Anyone passionate about the sector should make time for at least one of the talks on the Culture Change & Skills Stage at this year’s UK Construction Week London.”

Bringing together construction leaders, innovators and decision makers from across the industry, UKCW London will run alongside both Futurebuild and The Stone & Surfaces Show to create the UK’s Built Environment super event, attracting over 25,000 industry professionals.

Sponsored by Sage, Wyre, HotelPlanner, Zurich Resilience Solutions and Build Warranty, UKCW London will feature over 300 leading brands; over 25 trade bodies and associations, including the Federation of Master Builders, CIBSE, and the National Association Of Air Duct-Cleaners UK.

Visitors can register for free by visiting: https://forms.reg.buzz/ukcw-london-2026/cab-campaign.

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Comments

"Insightful agenda. Closing the skills gap is not just about numbers, but about fostering an inclusive culture that values diverse pathways. Transitioning to a sustainable built environment depends entirely on the human-centric skills highlighted here. Thank you for sharing these important sessions!