MEDITE SMARTPLY has warned that the UK construction skills crisis will not be solved by recruitment campaigns alone, arguing that the timber sector needs deeper collaboration, better training routes and earlier exposure to modern wood-based technologies.
The call comes as the Construction Industry Training Board estimates that construction will need to recruit 239,300 additional workers between 2025 and 2029 – the equivalent of almost 48,000 extra people every year.
The Ireland-based manufacturer, which operates an OSB mill in Waterford and an MDF plant in Clonmel, says ambitious housing targets, the transition to low-carbon buildings and the increasing use of modern methods of construction all point towards a sector in transformation.
Last year, MEDITE SMARTPLY partnered with the Structural Timber Association to examine the pressures facing the UK timber sector. The findings showed that 73% of UK respondents were experiencing skilled labour shortages, with concerns raised over attracting new entrants, the availability of apprenticeships, local training pathways and the long-term viability of the workforce.
The survey points to a growing disconnect between policy ambition and on-the-ground capability. Demand for timber systems may be rising, but delivery still depends on having enough people with the right practical and technical skills.
“While demand for timber systems continues to rise – driven by housing targets and demand for low-carbon housing – the pool of skilled workers able to deliver these systems is shrinking,” said Roly Ward, MEDITE SMARTPLY Head of Business Development.
“An ageing workforce, coupled with lingering misconceptions about careers in construction and manufacturing, is making it increasingly difficult to bridge that gap.”
MEDITE SMARTPLY is urging manufacturers, educators, industry bodies and policymakers to work more closely together. The company is already involved in the Institute of Carpenters’ Timber Industry College Hub programme, which brings together students, educators, industry leaders and aspiring carpenters and joiners to strengthen the link between education and employment.
It has also taken the approach beyond the UK. In the Netherlands, MEDITE SMARTPLY has partnered with vocational school SintLucas on practical design projects using MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME, helping students understand sustainability, material performance and design through hands-on work with wood-based panels.
The company is also supporting higher education through a €250,000 donation to TU Dublin, helping establish the new Design + Construct centre. The facility will focus on collaborative learning across architecture, engineering and construction, with an emphasis on off-site and modular construction and near-zero energy buildings.
“Building the next generation is about more than filling vacancies,” added Ward. “It’s about creating a workforce ready to deliver sustainable, high-quality buildings at scale – and ensuring that timber, and the people behind it, are central to that future.”
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Read the full article in the latest Timber Trader magazine here
