It really was a great pleasure to join HRH The Duke of Gloucester and Carol Lynch at the Construction Youth Trust ‘Thinking differently’ report launch.

Two years of work and some important recommendations to encourage more of the next generation to think about opportunities in construction and the built environment. Over three-quarters of 18-24 year-old full time students would not consider a career in the industry. There is a perception that it’s dirty and unsafe!

Recommendations of the report include impactful school engagement, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, engage and inspire parents, talk about pay, work experience and ‘earn and learn’, be welcoming to school leavers, retention, and motivation of apprentices. And, as I know from my work as Chair of the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Task Force, there is a worrying skills-gap in designing, building, and maintaining sustainable buildings which needs to be addressed.