Recruitment and Retention in Construction Conference 2027
Supporters at Our Events Include
Overview
Construction is facing significant workforce challenges, with skills shortages and an increasing demand placing growing pressure on employers across the sector. As the industry works to deliver the UK’s ambitions for housing, infrastructure and net zero developing and retaining a skilled workforce has become increasingly important. Advances in digital technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping the skills employers need and creating new opportunities to transform recruitment, workforce planning and training.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Keynote: Delivering the Workforce to Support Britain’s Industrial Future
- Outlining the Government’s vision for strengthening the UK’s construction workforce as part of the Industrial Strategy
- Highlighting current government action to expand skills and apprenticeships and the role industry must play in attracting and developing the next generation of construction talent
- Exploring how collaboration across government and construction industry can address persistent skills shortages in the construction sector
- Encouraging industry leaders to improve recruitment and retention by investing in leadership that will secure the long-term resilience of the UK’s construction industry
Keynote: Equipping Industry with the Skills to Meet Future Demand
- Presenting the latest workforce intelligence, examining future labour demand and the skills required to deliver the UK’s housing and infrastructure plans
- Demonstrating how employers can attract new talent and improve long-term workforce retention through investment in skills and training
- Highlighting the importance of investment to address sector-specific competence and recruitment challenges
- Exploring the funding available to help businesses train their workforce through apprenticeships and workforce development
Adrian Beckingham, Executive Director Strategy and Policy, CITB (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Improving Retention to Build a Stronger Construction Workforce
- Examining why retaining skilled workers is becoming as critical as recruiting new entrants and the implications for delivering the UK’s infrastructure and retrofit ambitions
- Identifying the workplace factors that encourage employees to build long-term careers in construction, including effective leadership and continuous professional development
- Exploring the steps employers can take to improve retention by investing in workforce development, strengthening workplace culture and supporting employee wellbeing, particularly within SME construction businesses
- Considering how improving retention can reduce recruitment pressures and support a construction workforce
Louisa Finlay, Chief People Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Kier Group (invited)
Case Study: Developing Opportunities in Construction Through Apprenticeships
- Demonstrating how apprenticeships have become a key part of long-term workforce planning and support the business to develop talent
- Exploring how structured apprenticeship pathways are supporting career progression and long-term retention by combining recognised qualifications with experience
- Highlighting the role of employer and education partnerships in ensuring apprentices gain industry-relevant skills that can be applied on construction projects
- Outlining how apprenticeships strengthen recruitment and reducing reliance on external hiring
Maggie Stefaniak, Early Careers Manager, Tilbury Douglas (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: How AI Can Support Recruitment and Workforce Planning
- Exploring how AI is reshaping recruitment and skills development, enabling employers to identify future workforce needs
- Examining how AI is transforming construction through applications such as project planning, modelling and on-site safety, and the implications for future workforce skills
- Identifying the skills that construction employers should prioritise to equip their workforce for emerging technologies
- Considering how organisations can adopt AI responsibly by investing in workforce capability, supporting upskilling and ensuring AI enhances rather than replaces human expertise
Professor Des Fagan, Head of Architecture, Lancaster School of Architecture (CONFIRMED)
.svg)
Case Study: Developing a Strong EDI Policy to Support Recruitment and Retention
- Exploring how creating more inclusive recruitment processes can help attract underrepresented groups into construction careers
- Identifying the steps employers can take to support inclusive workplace cultures that improve employee engagement, belonging and long-term retention
- Highlighting how collaboration across the sector is driving consistent action on diversity and inclusion through shared standards
- Sharing examples of how organisations include diverse leadership and workplace practices to strengthen recruitment.
Faith Abadu, Founder and Director, Diversity and Inclusion in Construction (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking: Sharing Approaches to Recruitment and Retention in Construction
Connect with fellow delegates to discuss the recruitment and retention challenges facing the construction sector, exchange solutions and build new relationships to support workforce development across the industry.
Comfort Break
Keynote: Strengthening Education Pathways into Construction
- Exploring how partnerships between employers and educators can create pathways into construction careers
- Highlighting the role of T Levels, placements and apprenticeships in equipping learners with the skills and confidence to enter the construction workforce
- Demonstrating how approaches to curriculum design and employer engagement are helping to ensure training reflects current and future industry needs
- Sharing examples of education partnerships that are improving progression into construction careers
Arron Ward, Apprenticeship Development Manager, University of Salford (invited)
Case Study: Making Construction Careers More Attractive to the Next Generation
- Examining the factors influencing how young people and underrepresented groups perceive construction careers and the opportunities to reshape those perceptions
- Illustrating the breadth of careers available across construction, highlighting emerging opportunities
- Demonstrating how employers can encourage more people to consider careers in the construction sector
- Encouraging employers to become advocates for the industry by promoting careers that attract and retain the workforce needed to deliver the UK’s ambitions
Clare Francis, Head of Recruitment, Willmott Dixon (invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Conference Close
Speakers at Our Construction Conferences Include
Samantha Dixon MBE MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy)
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Julia Stevens
Engagement Director, Wales
CITB
Milda Manomaityte
Chief Executive Officer
Association for Consultancy and Engineering
Mark Harrison
Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Transformation
CIOB
Get in Touch
Why You Should Attend
✓ Hear policy-level updates on the workforce strategies shaping recruitment, skills and retention across the construction sector
✓ Learn from industry leaders and employers about practical approaches to developing talent, improving retention and building stronger career pathways
✓ Gain insights into how apprenticeships, education partnerships, EDI and AI can help address skills shortages and prepare the workforce for future demand
✓ Attend the day for your professional development and earn 8 hours of CPD points
Who Should Attend
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 3 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
