VIEWPOINT INDUSTRY FIGHTS
BACK AGAINST THE SKILLS SHORTAGE
Lucia Di Stazio, Senior Warden and Chair of Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants Education & Training Committee.
THE BUILDING MATERIALS industry is uniting to encourage the next generation of talent with a range of new initiatives is playing its part by offering funding opportunities.
The UK construction industry stands as a cornerstone of our economy, yet for decades it has continued to battle a chronic skills shortage. Even with the modest sector growth that is being forecast over the next few years, the Construction Industry Training Board has estimated we will need an extra 251,500 more construction workers by 2028 to meet demand. This gap not only hampers growth and makes it difficult for the industry to meet new government housebuilding targets but also underscores the pressing need for the sector to unite and create initiatives that will attract and nurture new talent.
The builders’ merchant and building materials supply sectors, in particular, sit at the very heart of construction. Together we supply up to 85% of the materials used in the UK’s built environment projects – that’s every new home, hospital, school, airport, road and infrastructure project that’s either started, refurbished or renovated right across the country.
We all understand how serious the current skills shortage is and how difficult it is to recruit new people, particularly from among the general public. Many apprentices and new starters who join the merchant sector do so because they have family working in the sector already, exposing them to lifelong careers that the sector can provide. But ask anyone outside of the construction sector what jobs are available in builders’ merchanting
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starting out, and those who are looking to take the next step in their careers, through grants towards training and educational needs.
or with material suppliers, they are unlikely to even know what a builders’ merchant really is, let alone understand the range of job opportunities.
Combatting the skills shortage To combat these challenges, it’s vital that we showcase the diverse and rewarding career paths available within the building materials supply sector as widely as possible. You can start in the warehouse or yard, be a forklift or HGV driver, work on the counter, in a showroom or in sales; or progress in other roles such as technical, finance, marketing or HR – the range of available jobs is enormous, and the opportunities for training and new skills development are excellent. We also need to emphasise the opportunities that exist in areas such as technology integration, digital skills and sustainability, among others.
That’s why it’s encouraging to see so many industry organisations now coming together to help promote the sector and its varied opportunities.
The recent National
Apprenticeship Week (NAW) saw the Builders’ Merchants Federation (BMF) exceed its Apprenticeship Pledge to secure 15,000 new apprenticeship
places by 2030, having already had members pledge more than 15,578 places. Meanwhile, the National Merchant Buying Society (NMBS) has played a part in over 150 apprenticeships, with 60 being recruited into the independent merchant sector as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations.
In a further response to the recruitment challenge, the BMF’s newly launched ‘Building Materials Careers’ initiative has created a comprehensive platform –
bmcareers.com – offering career advice and resources tailored to the building materials industry for career starters, career changers and educational institutions.
As a City Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Builders’ Merchants (WCoBM) has a rich history and a deep-rooted tradition of philanthropy, education and industry advocacy. Our goal is to raise the profile of building materials supply both in the City and among the wider community, highlighting the importance of builders’ merchants in supplying Britain’s building needs.
That’s why the Livery continues to drive its ‘Build Your Career’ campaign, which aims to highlight the funding support available both to young people
The Livery recognises that the future of the building materials sector hinges on ensuring a skilled workforce, and that learning shouldn’t be held back by financial constraints, so WCoBM offers grants of up to £2,000 per person or per organisation to use towards education and training in the industry. The funding is open to individuals looking to enter the building materials sector for the first time, such as school leavers, graduates or apprentices, or to support existing employees with their onward development. WCoBM grants can be used for a range of needs to ensure the financial support benefits individuals or organisations where it matters the most. For example, it can help cover the cost, fully or partially, of relevant learning materials and practical tools, support dedicated qualifications, learning modules, training platforms or apprenticeship programmes. All grants are subject to meeting the relevant criteria. Our industry relies on the ability to attract, train, and retain skilled professionals for every part of the business and working collaboratively, significant strides are being made in raising awareness of the sector at government level and among the educational field. We hope these efforts will help pave the way for a robust and resilient industry that stands ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. BMJ
• For more information on WCoBM and its grants, visit
wcobm.co.uk/grants-and- funding.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2025
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