Six in 10 construction students leave the profession shortly after completing their training. As a result, the industry is falling dangerously short in securing its next generation of talent. A major part of the problem is the disconnect between employers and training providers. Marshalls Bricks & Masonry is set on reversing this concerning trend.
“The construction industry is no stranger to challenges, but the skills shortage is affecting each and every one of us—and seems to only be getting worse,” says Dean Harris, Managing Director at Marshalls Bricks & Masonry. “Construction is a long, interconnected chain, and we’re right at the sharp end, witnessing the skills shortage firsthand.”
With a shortage of 25,000 bricklayers, at odds with the government’s commitment to build 300,000 new homes annually, there has never been a more necessary time than now to rise to these challenges. Dean Harris added, “Building quality homes takes more than just quality materials; it takes skilled hands. Without the right expertise, those materials can’t become the homes our industry is working so hard to deliver. If we don’t act now, projects will stall, and the government’s ambitious housing target—well, that will remain far out of reach.”
To play its part in tackling the issue, Marshalls Bricks & Masonry has been working with training providers to help them deliver more realistic and relevant industry training. To date, the company has donated several thousand bricks, including a recent donation of 10,000 concrete facing bricks to Stockton Riverside College this June. These bricks will go straight into the hands of students—giving them valuable, hands-on experience—helping to bridge the gap between the classroom and the construction site.
Since reinstating its brickwork courses in 2017, Stockton Riverside College has since developed a strong, industry-aligned programme. Frankie Moore, a current student says, “Getting the chance to experience proper materials used on real construction sites, as much as it is fun, makes me feel prepared and excited for my future career in the real world.”
Alex Thompson, Construction & Engineering Curriculum Manager at Stockton Riverside College, agrees, “Donations like this, show our students that their future industry believes in them. Without this kind of support from manufacturers, we simply can’t offer practical training on our courses. And that only deepens the skills gap. By handling real, quality materials, we’re able to deliver more realistic and impactful programmes to our students.
“Far beyond building walls, we’re building confidence—we’re training the next generation of bricklayers, and Marshalls Bricks & Masonry is helping us do that more effectively than ever.”
Dean concludes: “Progress only happens when everyone steps up. The skills crisis isn’t someone else’s problem; it belongs to us all. From manufacturers and merchants to educators and developers, we each have a role to play. Marshalls Bricks & Masonry is doing more than sounding the alarm—we’re taking action, brick by brick.”
