CITB has introduced Future Made, a campaign to encourage more young people into construction.
Social media influencers will be posting content on their platforms to show young audiences their adventures in trying out bricklaying, roofing, painting and decorating and more as part of the campaign. Day-in-the-life videos of inspirational young bricklayers, carpenters, painters and decorators will also be promoted to young people on their favourite social media.
Anjali Pindoria, 24, is a project surveyor with Avi Contracts. She said: “I absolutely love coming on site. Not only do I learn new carpentry and joinery elements but I also get to learn about construction in general, you get to see the different parts of the logistics and you just get to be inquisitive about what is going on on site.”
Billie-Jo Judd is a 22-year-old plasterer who also has made a Future Made video. She said: “It’s always something new, I just love it, it’s amazing, it’s probably the most therapeutic job in the whole world. The reaction from the customers is probably the best feeling ever.”
During a small-scale test phase last autumn posts received over 88,000 views in one month, with over 16,000 engagements. Content showing the positive experiences in the industry of their peers will attract young people, before being directed to detailed information on applying for apprenticeships and to local training providers on Go Construct.
Future Made is backed by the CITB Nation Councils for England, Scotland and Wales, made up of representatives from construction companies of a range of sizes and trades. It is one component of CITB’s construction careers strategy, which also includes:
- Giving young people the right information and routes to join the industry through Go Construct
- Supporting the national SkillBuild competition to inspire potential entrants
- Research to inform a better provision of work experience, nationally
- Grants to support construction employers of all sizes to take on apprentices
- Recruitment from under-represented groups through initiatives such as Pathways into Construction
