Northern Counties Builders Federation (NCBF), in collaboration with Darlington College, is to host the latest ‘Building Your Future’ event, on March 5, 2025.
Aimed at connecting employers in the North East’s construction sector with students preparing to enter the workforce, the event, 10.30am-12.30pm, is part of a wider campaign that seeks to bridge the skills gap in the region’s construction industry.
With over 250,000 new construction workers needed nationally by 2028, NCBF’s ‘Building Your Future’ campaign is a key initiative designed to directly address the shortage.
The campaign which launched in 2023, has already made significant strides, with successful collaborations with Hartlepool College and Sunderland College, bringing together employers looking to hire skilled workers with final-year students studying a range of essential trades, including bricklaying, plumbing and carpentry.
The event includes networking, presentations from NCBF and Darlington College and a tour of the college’s state-of-the-art facilities.
NCBF is a long-established membership association bringing together construction companies and contractors operating in the North East of England.
It is proactive in raising the profile of members, supporting training and apprenticeships and helping to future-proof the North East construction industry.
Angela Carney, president, NCBF, said: “The campaign is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen the workforce and support economic growth across the region.
“This will be the third event and it’s clear that they provide significant value, with high attendance rates from businesses across the North East. This strong turnout demonstrates the keen interest many companies have in attracting new workers and securing future talent to meet the considerable skills gap. For students, parents and educational institutions, ‘Building Your Future’ serves as a powerful message that the construction sector should be a top career choice for young people, with abundant opportunities for growth.
“The industry is not just looking to recruit new workers, there is also ample opportunity for career development with many employers looking to invest in employees over the long-term to train them to fill high level roles.
“Employers such as Kier Group, Hodgson Sayers, Applebridge Family, Geoffrey Robinson, Classic Masonry, Persimmon Homes were represented at our first two events, with the clear intention of helping students transition into the workforce and understand the opportunities available to them.
“Collaboration is key and working alongside colleges allows industry to gain access to the next generation of tradespeople in order to meet the challenges ahead.”
Luke Gate, curriculum manager for construction at Darlington College, said: “We are delighted to partner with Northern Counties Builders Federation for the ‘Building Your Future’ event. The initiative offers our students an invaluable opportunity to meet directly with employers and showcase the skills they have developed during their studies. It is vital that we continue to strengthen our links with industry to ensure our students are prepared for the next step in their careers and are able to contribute to tackling the skills gap in the sector.”