Celebrating the 125th anniversary of WHR's Mallaig extension
01 Apr 2026The extension opened on 1st April 1901 and contains a series of major viaducts, including the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct
Closing the construction skills gap
Nicola Markall, Workforce Planning Director, writes in Construction Management about rethinking recruitment practices to address the construction skills gap.
Competency-led, modernised recruitment and selection practices are key to solving construction’s skills crisis, writes Nicola in an article for Construction Management.
The Construction Skills Mission Board, a private and public sector partnership body launched in June 2025, has set an ambitious target to recruit 100,000 new workers every year by 2030.
This is a laudable step forward, but with a recent report from The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) speculating that the industry must recruit closer to one million new employees, Nicola explores how the industry can tackle this issue, arguing that competency-led, modernised recruitment and selection practices are key to solving the construction skills crisis.
Key highlights from the article include:
- Competency-led recruitment – focusing on skills and behaviours, not just CVs.
- Broadening attraction – engaging underrepresented groups and challenging outdated perceptions.
- Retention through development – investing in apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with education providers.
- Driving cultural change – making construction careers purpose-driven and aligned with sustainability values.
Read the full article via the Construction Management website.
Recruitment and selection processes must be brought in line with the needs and expectations of today’s workforce and ensure employers select people with the right competencies and behaviours.
Nicola Markall, Workforce Planning Director
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