The Future of Construction: Innovation is moving fast - but people, skills and culture will decide the pace
The Future of Construction: Innovation is moving fast - but people, skills and culture will decide the pace
A recent roundtable feature by Insider Media brought together construction and property leaders to explore what the future of the sector really looks like. The conversation covered everything from modern methods and digital technology to safety, sustainability and workforce development.
And while innovation dominated much of the discussion, the most consistent theme running throughout was far more fundamental: The future of construction will be determined by people - not just process.
Workforce Pressure Isn’t Coming - It’s already here
One of the clearest risks highlighted was the growing skills shortage.
According to industry insight referenced in the feature, around 25% of construction workers are planning to retire within the next five years, creating a significant experience gap at the same time project demand is rising.
Sector leaders were clear: no matter how advanced technology becomes, construction will always rely on skilled individuals on site.
Encouraging new entrants, particularly younger workers and underrepresented groups, is now critical to long-term delivery capacity.
Apprenticeships and Early Talent are gaining ground
The good news is, there are positive signs.
Several contractors featured in the article are investing heavily in structured early-careers pathways, with some reporting apprentices making up more than 10% of their workforce.
Long-running student and vocational programmes are also improving retention and loyalty, helping businesses build sustainable talent pipelines rather than relying solely on external hiring.
But again, the consensus was clear: progress is being made, just not yet at the scale required.
Training models need to catch up with modern build methods
A particularly important insight centred on how construction is evolving - and whether training frameworks are keeping pace.
With the growth of MMC, panelised systems and factory-led construction, some businesses now find traditional apprenticeship routes misaligned with how buildings are actually delivered.
In response, organisations are creating in-house academies and training centres to develop skills specific to modern construction techniques. It’s a sign the industry isn’t just facing a skills shortage - it’s more a skills mismatch.
Safety, Competence and Regulation are reshaping capability needs
Post-Grenfell reforms - particularly the Building Safety Act - are also influencing the future workforce model.
The article highlights how increased scrutiny on competence, compliance and accountability is raising the bar for who can work on higher-risk buildings.
But with only a limited pool of experienced, regulator-ready professionals available, capability is being stretched. In simple terms: regulation is moving faster than the workforce pipeline supplying it.
Culture and diversity will influence workforce growth
Another powerful theme was inclusion – in particular, the need to attract more women into the sector.
Despite women representing over half the UK population, they account for just 14% of the construction workforce and only around 2% on site.
Industry leaders stressed that closing the skills gap will require cultural change as much as recruitment - from site facilities and PPE to mentoring and visible career pathways. Without that shift, a significant portion of the potential workforce remains untapped.
Technology will enable delivery - but it won’t replace skills
Innovation still plays a major role in shaping the future.
Examples highlighted included:
•Digital twin technology improving building performance monitoring
•Platforms optimising material reuse and reducing carbon
•AI-enabled mentoring and social value programmes
•Factory-controlled MMC environments improving build quality
Each innovation drives efficiency, sustainability and cost certainty - but none remove the need for skilled professionals, they simply change the type of skills required.
Thorn Baker Perspective
Our Head of Offsite & Professional at Thorn Baker Construction, Rhian Newman, reflects:
“The future of construction isn’t just about innovation - it’s about skills.
Workforce shortages remain one of the biggest risks to growth. With a significant proportion of the workforce approaching retirement and demand for housing and infrastructure rising, the pressure is mounting.
Apprenticeships are part of the solution, but the challenge is scale and speed. To meet future demand, we need more apprenticeship starts, better completion rates, training aligned to modern methods and digital construction, and greater diversity entering the sector.
If the industry is serious about delivering on its ambitions, investing in people isn’t optional - it’s foundational.”
From Industry Insight to Industry Action
What is clear is this: The future of construction isn’t being shaped by one single force, it’s the convergence of:
•Workforce demographics
•Training reform
•Safety regulation
•Cultural change
•Technology adoption
•Modern build methods
Innovation may define how we build, but skills, capability and workforce readiness will determine whether projects get delivered at all.
If these challenges feel familiar, you’re not alone. They’re the same conversations happening across the clients and projects we support every day.
If you want to benchmark where your workforce risks sit, or sense-check how others are planning ahead, we’re always open to a conversation. No sales pitches, just the insight from a business who have been at the forefront of construction delivery for more than 35 years,