All BTF skills and education articles
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CommentThe elephant in the lecture theatre: Why universities must rethink space, community and culture
The way teachers teach and students learn has changed and empty buildings and outdated facilities are draining resources. A culture shift is required if HE institutions are to avoid a slow decline into irrelevance, says Philip Watson
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CommentUniversity challenge: how estate teams are investing and innovating despite financial pressures
In the face of ever-increasing budgetary strain, universities are shifting their focus from expansive projects towards schemes that deliver operational savings, environmental performance and an all-round better student experience, writes Mike Borkowski
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CommentDEI is under threat – we urgently need systemic change
Five years on from our last survey, new research shows young people remain sceptical about a career in construction. Here’s how we take meaningful action, says Sonia Watson
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Aiysha Alli at Loughborough University
Aiysha initially wanted to be a pilot but is now well on her way to a career as an architect. She highlights the importance of work experience and mentors within the profession for helping her on her journey
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CommentWe have a system that avoids employment: The lessons to be learnt from City & Guilds research
Nicola Hodkinson discusses how the industry can fix the skills gap, speaking from the experience of running a company where apprentices account for more than 11% of the workforce
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NewsStarmer announces new educational target to include apprenticeships
Prime minister wants two-thirds of young people to get a degree or ‘gold-standard’ apprenticeship
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Foysol Islam, assistant design manager at Willmott Dixon
At school Foysol thought he wanted to be an architect, but later he decided joining a contractor would suit him better. While on a site visit through Open Doors he asked if he could get some work experience, and that gave him the confidence to apply for his first role ...
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CommentFragmented and misunderstood – why our sector risks losing a generation
If we want young people to join our industry, we must show them an industry worth joining, says Ashley Wheaton, vicechancellor at the University of the Built Environment
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Rebecca Freeman, senior quantity surveyor at Dandara
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Daniel Parker, cost consultant at MESH
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns
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CommentBuilding momentum: Why it is up to us to inspire the next generation
Government funding is obviously important but it is only by going into schools, mentoring potential recruits and making practical experience more widely available alongside formal education that the construction industry will change perceptions and open up the sector to the talent of the future
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CommentConstruction must start facing up to new labour pains
The government is stuck in a spending straitjacket of its own making. However, borrowing for investment will help to sustain future workload for construction, writes Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis
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CommentIt’s time to rethink design and construction education
Our industry is full of specialists who tend to be siloed in their thinking. A new qualification at the University of Leeds aims to produce graduates with a broader range of skills across architecture, building services and structural engineering, writes course leader Justin Lunn
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FeaturesOpen Doors: aspiring engineers visit HS2’s Old Oak Common Station
Students from a Berkshire college got a close-up view of the largest station development in HS2’s project pipeline as part of Build UK’s recruitment initiative
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Rob Willden, cost manager at Linesight
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns
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CommentThe UK’s skills approach remains fractured – we need joined-up thinking
Businesses including my own are working hard to build pipelines of talent to match the expected demand, but Skills England must bring the industry response together, says T&T’s Patricia Moore
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Jack Norkett, senior project manager at RED Construction
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns
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FeaturesClosing the skills gap: Alison Watson’s mission to transform built environment education
The current Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering president tells Mary Richardson why she thinks the industry must get smarter when it comes to educating its future professionals
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Parm Bhangal, founder and CEO of Bhangals Construction Consultants
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns
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FeaturesMy route into construction … Shreya Aneja, architectural designer at White Arkitekter
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns