Construct.id, a new digital platform, is set to unite the industry by standardising and providing data to ease construction credential checks
Construct.id is a new industry-wide platform launched to raise standards and provide easier access to credential checks, serving the entire construction community with a single source of verified identity, skills and competency data.
A lack of digital standards, data silos and lengthy onboarding processes have held back the UK construction industry, according to the founders of Construct.id.
These factors have also contributed to the ongoing industry issues of fake credentials and modern slavery, as criminals and illegitimate actors take advantage to evade repurcussions.
The Construct.id app and portal are now available to contractors and skilled workers
Skilled workers, subcontractors and main contractors are all able to join the platform, which consists of two components.
A free app allows skilled workers to digitally store and present their verified identity, work history and credentials to site managers across every project they work on.
There is also a portal for contractors and subcontractors to set standards, get total visibility of the supply chain and ensure workers have the correct credentials.
Willmott Dixon have already signed up as ambassadors, mandating the digital platform across their supply chain, with more ambassadors are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Construct.id is now calling on the wider supply chain, including awarding bodies and trade associations, to help unite a fragmented industry and ease access to construction credential checks.
The platform was developed with Chris Hurley, “a digital identity pioneer within the aviation industry”
Co-founders Martin Ward and Dominic Howkins have a combined 55 years of experience in technology and systems development.
They grew dissatisfied with the lack of industry-wide change, so set out to create an independent digital platform that would simplify processes and raise standards.
Martin Ward, co-founder and managing director of Construct.id, said: “In a nutshell, we have created a platform that can connect any credentials across the industry and place these with the worker. We then allow contractors to set credential standards needed to attend site and match the two. This massively improves transparency and removes lengthy onsite verification, as the credentials are verified at source.”
Fighting the skills shortage and modern slavery
Construct.id aims to use its platform and partnerships to support the construction industry in reducing modern slavery by providing free right-to-work credential checks for its members.
It also hopes to address the skills shortage and plug gaps in mental health support in the industry by reducing paperwork that can be a cause of workplace stress.
Martin continued: “We have the ability to establish workers identity and provide free right to work checks to government standards. This information is provided to organisations and their supply chains, ensuring everyone working on site is who they say they are, and has the right skills and legal requirements.
“Because of this level of transparency, this tool can be used to fight labour abuse and modern slavery across the entire supply chain. We have to work collaboratively to address betterment at every level, and this is where Construct.id can support.”
Supporting the supply chain with digitalisation
Martin added: “Raising standards begins at the point of qualification, which is why we want to work with awarding bodies to transfer old fashioned paper certificates into free online credentials, which will support the entire supply chain straight away.
“If you’re already using digital credentials, we want to work together to provide a single source of data for the betterment of all.”
