Open Doors, a campaign which sees the construction industry open live sites and offices presenting a unique chance to enjoy behind the scenes access across sites in England, Scotland and Wales, was launched today (28 February)
The Open Doors campaign, which is led by Build UK in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), aims to inspire young people and career changers to consider and explore a career in the construction industry.
Construction is an industry of opportunity. According to the latest Construction Skills Network report 158,000 jobs will be created in the sector from 2018-2022. Jobs in demand include carpenters, labourers and white collar managerial roles highlighting the diverse range of opportunities in the industry.
Last year’s campaign saw over 5,000 bookings across 200 construction sites in England, Scotland and Wales. This year’s campaign, which takes place from 19-24 March, will see over 270 sites open to the public.
At today’s launch event students from local schools and colleges were invited to an exciting preview of the iconic One Blackfriars on the Thames riverside. During the launch, students and attendees were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the on-going construction work and the panoramic views from the 32nd floor.
One Blackfriars is a great example of a modern construction project, and highlights the range of roles that together build our new homes.
Other sites opening their doors to the public in England, Scotland and Wales during the campaign include:
- Edinburgh College of Art
- Zenith Building, Capital Quarter, Cardiff
- Exeter University Student Hubs.
Suzannah Nichol MBE, Build UK Chief Executive, said: “Open Doors 2018 is set to be another record-breaking year with fantastic, iconic sites like One Blackfriars opening up across England, Scotland and Wales. Open Doors provides an ideal opportunity for the industry to open their doors and highlight the vast array of jobs and careers available within it.”
Mark Noonan, CITB Industry Relations Director, said: “By providing an exclusive, behind the scenes look at some of Britain’s best building sites, young people of all backgrounds can see the range of rewarding careers construction offers.
“We are predicting steady growth over the next five years, particularly in housing and infrastructure, so there really are huge opportunities out there for talented young people.
“One Blackfriars is already a spectacular part of London’s skyline, and Open Doors is an excellent way of showcasing the fantastic, modern construction projects that are changing our urban landscape.”
Open Doors is also supported by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and Go Construct.
