Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Chief Executive, Brian Berry, made a visit to Constructionarium in King's Lynn, emphasising the critical importance of practical, hands-on training to address the worsening skills shortage plaguing the UK construction industry.
During his tour of the innovative 19-acre facility, Brian witnessed students collaborating on scaled-down versions of iconic structures, including a replica of London's famous "Gherkin" skyscraper.
The site offers a unique simulated construction environment where participants can safely experience the challenges of real-world building projects, from foundation work to structural assembly, under expert supervision. This hands-on approach bridges the crucial gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application that many traditional education programs struggle to address.
The visit highlights the escalating skills crisis facing the sector, with recent industry figures showing over 35,000 construction job vacancies nationwide. More than half of these positions remain unfilled due to skills shortages – the highest rate of any UK economic sector. The construction industry must recruit at least 250,000 new workers to meet growth projections and replace its rapidly aging workforce, and if the Government is to meet its ambitious housing targets.
The FMB’s State of Trade Survey for Q4 2024 revealed that as many as 42% of small, local builders reported having jobs delayed due to a lack of skilled labour. This comes at a time when the UK faces a housing crisis with the Government having the ambition to build 1.5million new homes.
FMB CEO Brian Berry said: "What I've seen at Constructionarium perfectly illustrates what our industry desperately needs – training that truly prepares people for the realities of modern construction. Our latest FMB State of Trade Survey shows that 33% of our members are struggling to recruit bricklayers, while 37% cannot find the carpenters and joiners they need. These aren't just statistics – they represent real projects delayed, homes not built, and businesses unable to grow. If we don't act decisively on skills development now, the UK's ambitious housing and infrastructure goals will remain nothing more than an unrealistic aspiration. The skills gap isn't just holding back individual businesses – it's undermining our collective ability to build the homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure this country urgently needs. Facilities like Constructionarium exemplify the innovative approaches we need to champion across the country."
The visit coincided with Constructionarium's latest partnership with the University of Southampton – bringing together university students, educators, and industry professionals for immersive construction experiences designed to inspire and develop the next generation of construction talent. Later in the year, the site will welcome students as far away as Texas.
Julia Stevens, Managing Director of Constructionarium Ltd, welcomed the FMB delegation: “We are always delighted to welcome visitors to our construction site simulator in Norfolk, it was a particular pleasure to host the FMB, where they witnessed students from the University of Southampton successfully complete four projects – Brewery Wharf, Kingsgate Footbridge, Millau Cable Bridge, and Ravenspurn Oil Platform.”
“Visits like these provide a valuable opportunity to showcase our unique, experiential learning approach, where students at all levels take on the challenge of delivering scaled construction projects to a client. Our immersive and fast-paced training environment benefits not only students but also industry partners, many of whom incorporate Constructionarium into their early careers inductions and team-building programs. As a CPD-certified and CITB grant-approved initiative, we offer a collaborative platform for suppliers to engage with emerging and current talent, raising product awareness for future procurement opportunities while supporting social value commitments through material donations or loans.”
The FMB is calling for a three-pronged approach to address the crisis:
- Produce a construction skills plan to set out a long-term delivery schedule for vocational skills.
- Set clear minimum competence standards for building companies to help guide current and future training provision.
To work with industry to create clear training pathways for prospective builders, which will help professionalise the sector
