Marvin OnumonuThe Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) have confirmed that they are sponsoring Construction and Engineering Week 2025, aiming to encourage young people to consider careers in construction and engineering.
More than 1,500 students from primary and secondary schools, as well as companies from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, will attend the event at Lincolnshire Showground from 23rd September to 25th September.
Now in its 21st year, Construction and Engineering Week gives students aged 10 to 18 a chance to try trades like carpentry, bricklaying, electrical and mechanical engineering, including using virtual reality simulators for welding and operating diggers.
The event is free for schools and is organised by Lincoln Group Training Association (LGTA) and Abbey Access Training with support from local employers.
Other sponsors include Lindum Group, ARCO, LineTrain and Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub.
Tim Balcon, CEO of CITB, said: “In a time when construction skills are in high demand, it is more important than ever to support events like Construction and Engineering Week.
“The event gives employers an opportunity to engage with their local community and help inspire the next generation by providing access to transformative, real-world experiences in construction.
“CITB’s recent Construction Workforce Outlook report found the construction industry needs 47,860 extra workers a year to meet the growing demand.”
Balcon added: “To achieve this, it will take collaboration across the industry from employers and educators to work together to help shape the workforce of tomorrow.”
Andrew Hockey, CEO of ECITB, said: “The engineering construction industry and its supply chain companies engineer, project manage and install much of the country’s critical infrastructure.
“It ensures the economy has energy security, clean water, food and drink and the everyday products that we all rely on.
“But our forecasts show that 40,000 additional workers could be needed for major projects, including those related to net zero, by 2030.”
Hockey added: “Working in partnership to inspire the next generation of engineers and construction workers and expanding the diversity of new entrants is absolutely vital for us to close that skills gap.”
Steve Taylor, group training officer at LGTA, said: “This inclusive hands-on event aims to ignite passion in the next generation by delivering immersive and impactful construction and engineering experiences.
“We work closely with local schools and businesses to ensure we align the experiences with students.
“Essentially, we connect young people with real roles in industry to inspire and shape the workforce of tomorrow.”
