Category: careers advice
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CPA rolls out plant simulator to attract future talent
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The Construction Plant-Hire Association (CPA) has invested in a plant simulator to help attract young people to construction careers. The simulator, from Tenstar Simulation, allows users to get practical experience operating a range of equipment, including dumpers, excavators, telehandlers and tower cranes, using realistic controls and 3D motion. The simulator is housed in a bespoke…
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Modern hiring: closing the construction skills gap
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Competency-led, modernised recruitment and selection practices are key to solving construction’s skills crisis. June 2025 marked the launch of the Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB). The private and public sector partnership body is tasked with the recruitment of 100,000 construction workers a year by the end of Parliament to meet government housebuilding and infrastructure targets. A recent CIOB report has since speculated…
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Willmott Dixon on what construction employers want
Kicking off our new series featuring insights from major employers, Clare Francis, head of recruitment at Willmott Dixon, tells CM People that even in a digital age, the ‘human element’ remains critical to the company’s hiring process. The industry is becoming increasingly digital… We’ll need people who can blend emerging digital capabilities with traditional engineering…
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Construction apprenticeship: ‘No better way to start my career’
Following a recent development day to kickstart new careers at Ashe Construction, three apprentices tell CM People what they have gained so far and share their plans for the future. Olly Owen, apprentice site supervisor What training have you done prior to starting with Ashe and what did you do on the development day? I’ve…
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Adult learner scheme launched to upskill existing workforce
A new training scheme for adult learners in the north of England is helping semi-skilled workers become tradespeople in the engineering construction industry. Funded by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), the scheme has been developed by the International Assessment Centre (IAC) in response to demand from employers to help workers who have site experience but…
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Job spotlight: senior consultant, Turner & Townsend
Shifa Isa explains why supporting others on their career journey is just as rewarding as her own personal achievements at Turner & Townsend. What attracted you to a career in the built environment? One of the key drivers in my career is witnessing the real, measurable impact that our efforts have on the communities and…
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Thames Water opens new apprenticeship training hub
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Thames Water has partnered with Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) to open a new apprenticeship training facility. The Thames Water Engineering Room will support practical skills essential for engineering careers in the water sector. The newly launched facility will provide hands-on training for the 100 Thames Water apprentices currently studying at the college. Tess Fayers, waste…
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West Midlands mayor commits £75m to boost construction skills
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has announced a £75 million construction skills package to train more than 12,000 people over the next three years. The funding aims to support people into work, as well as upskilling the current workforce, with a focus on skills in areas such as bricklaying, engineering, design, plastering and painting. Funding…
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Improving learning accessibility in the CIOB Academy
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The CIOB Academy is evolving its efforts to support professional development and career progression. Since our formation in 2016, the CIOB Academy’s approach has been to create inclusive educational pathways for individuals across the built environment, supporting them to fulfil their potential. Recognising that people learn in different ways, if we want the sector to…
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Job spotlight: HR director, Edge
What does it take to stay ahead in a competitive field? Charlotte Hayes tells CM People how she maintains the edge in her role. What attracted you to a career in the built environment? The construction industry is incredibly diverse, not just in the projects it delivers but also in the people it attracts. It…