Leeds College of Building has celebrated the achievements of its students at the annual Building Industry Greats Awards, against the backdrop of growing concern over skills shortages across the construction sector
At this year’s BIG (Building Industry Greats) Awards, Leeds College of Building (LCB) shone a spotlight on its students and apprentices — but the event also served as a timely reminder of the wider challenge facing the construction sector: finding and retaining the next generation of skilled workers.
This year’s ceremony distributed more awards than ever before — 44 trophies, seven ICE QUEST Technician Scholarships and a British Tunnelling Society Young Members medal — all celebrating emerging talent coming through the college.
Gracie Belwood, currently employed at Systra Group, claimed the Governor’s Award following her completion of a Level 3 Transport Planning Apprenticeship. She also received the Commitment to Industry and Professional Development Award (sponsored by Turner & Townsend). Gracie is moving on to a Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship at Northeastern University London.
Daniel Heffernan, who works for Howard Civil Engineering, won the Principal’s Award after completing a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying. A student at LCB since 2019, he progressed from Level 4 qualifications to full degree level. Daniel also secured the Commitment to the College Award.
Both winners reflected on how their apprenticeships had bridged theory and practice, helping them gain a fuller understanding of the industry — a crucial stepping stone into professional roles.
Gracie said she was “ecstatic” to be honoured, commenting: “My apprenticeship with LCB has been very helpful, especially in the transport planning course. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to go and do lots of field trips and experience new things that I can apply to my job role.”
Daniel also won the ‘Commitment to the College’ Award and said he was surprised after only expecting to receive one trophy: “LCB has given me confidence in terms of reinforcing what you do at work, but also filling gaps in where the work can’t expose you to certain things. Studying here, you get an appreciation of the industry as a whole.”
Skills gap remains a pressing challenge
The construction sector is under mounting pressure to recruit. The CITB’s Construction Skills Network / Workforce Outlook forecasts that by 2028, the UK will need 251,500 additional construction workers to meet projected demand — an average of over 50,300 new recruits per year.
Meanwhile, the more recent 2025–29 Workforce Outlook confirms that sustained growth and resilience in the sector will depend heavily on training, retention, and investment in early-career talent.
Builders’ Merchants News reports that the industry will require 47,860 new workers per year during 2025–29, representing roughly 1.8 % of the existing workforce annually.
Builders Merchants News
To compound the urgency, the UK government has pledged £600 million to address the shortage via training, upskilling and industry placements.
What this means for construction stakeholders
- Providers and colleges must continue to strengthen pathways between education and employment, tailoring curricula to real-world employer needs.
- Contractors and employers need to not just recruit apprentices, but build retention models, mentorships and career pathways that keep young talent engaged.
- Industry bodies and government must maintain and expand funding mechanisms that lower the barriers for young people entering the sector.
- Events like the BIG Awards are more than celebratory — they serve as critical touchpoints to show young entrants the prestige and possibilities within construction.
As Leeds College of Building have demonstrated, recognising and investing in young talent is not just a feel-good exercise — it’s a strategic imperative for the industry’s future capacity and resilience.
Paul Donnelly, managing director at Marlborough, said the awards were a great opportunity to give something back: “We truly believe that without an influx of young people, there is no future for the industry. For us, we sponsor these awards as a reward for everyone’s efforts and to show that there is a good future in this line of work.”
Ian Hunter, technical apprenticeship manager at long-term industry partners BAM, said the evening “rubber stamps what we’re trying to do as a business in terms of developing emerging talent and bringing new apprentices into the industry. It’s a great industry to be in. I’ve been in it for more than 40 years, and it’s not just muddy boots and digging holes. There’s a lot more to it than you think!”
Reflecting on the evening, LCB CEO and Principal Nikki Davis added, “This really has been a fantastic year for LCB. We’ve undergone a successful rebrand, our T Level students received exceptional grades, and we’ve been named one of the first ever Construction Technical Excellence Colleges.
“The BIG Awards are perfectly timed to celebrate all our excellent students and staff, and tomorrow we’re all back in college for the new academic year which we hope is even bigger and better than the last.”
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