Believe it or not, having upskilled construction workers is the greatest asset in your construction business. You are equipping them with the knowledge of the latest regulations and technological advancements; hence, you don’t have to worry about skills shortages, workforce retention, safety, health, and productivity in the face of changing trends. So, before we start talking about upskilling construction workers and how it can increase business growth. Let us first understand why upskilling matters.
Why Upskilling Matters?
To keep up with the pace of construction industry trends, several new measures have been adopted, and these are the reasons that make upskilling mandatory:
- Employee retention: By upskilling the current lot of your construction workers, you can build a pipeline of talent and retain them.
- Digital transformation: Operations are done based on new construction technologies. BIM: Building Information Modeling, drone technology, 3D printing, AI, and data analytics have become the new norm. Basic skills of them are a must.
- Sustainability practices: This includes green buildings, renewable energy, and the use of a renewable material like fly ash cement. Construction workers who are upskilled can then improve their chances of getting environmentally friendly projects.
- Regulations and safety norms: Upskilled workers have a working knowledge of safety norms to ensure a safe work environment. Complying with regulations is a plus point for businesses that want to attract clients based on industry standards.
- Gaining the confidence of clients with contracts: Clients are more likely to invest in a company that has upskilled construction workers. This gives a clear advantage for getting major and specialised projects.
How does upskilling increase business growth?
Upskilling works on many different areas that contribute to the growth of your business, and here are some of the points that highlight it:
Improved productivity and efficiency
A construction workforce completes a task with accuracy and quality. Upskilling allows them to :
- Tackle complex challenges with confidence: Sometimes projects require more than just ‘getting the work done’. Problem solving is acquired through upskilling and hence offers a unique perspective to the business and its specialisation.
- Master new technologies: New and advanced technologies reduce the workload, therefore increasing the speed at which a project is completed.
- Fewer reworks and errors: Upskilled workers make fewer mistakes due to the high accuracy and quality of the finish in construction projects.
2. Work Quality and Reputation
When the construction workforce is upskilled with the latest technologies and standards, the quality of work remains consistent :
- High craftsmanship: Upskilled construction workers have a core knowledge of materials, techniques, and best practices. This leads to high-quality finishes.
- Strong client relationships: Delivering quality work consistently helps in gaining a client’s trust.
3. Cost savings
The hiring process for new construction workers is cumbersome. Upskilling your current lot of construction workers reduces the costs of recruitment. Additionally, it is economical because of:
- Lower turnover rates: Construction workers who are upskilled are more likely to stay, which means you are investing in long-term business growth by reducing turnover rates.
- Improved safety and legal regulations: Upskilling is not only about handling new technologies or providing quality work. It is also about complying with safety norms, which reduces on-site accidents and saves you money from worker compensation, insurance claims, and legal violation fees.
4. Competitive advantage
Once you upskill your construction workers, you have a chance of being the top bidder for contracts in your business.
- Attracting top customers: Customers will always be drawn to the fact that a construction business has upskilled workers whom they can rely upon, and hence, the chances of getting contracts are better.
- Stand out in the industry: Upskilling shows a wide range of certifications, which makes you and your construction workforce stand out from the rest.
5. Adaptability to industry changes
The construction industry is dynamic. It is always changing with the introduction of new materials, technologies, building methods, and regulations:
- Future-proof your business: Upskilling ensures that the construction workers are adaptable with respect to changing trends. Workers can take on new roles as per site requirements. As a result, your business is resistant to future changes.
- Scalability: As the team becomes more skilled, it can take on larger and more complex projects with time.
How to upskill your construction workers?
- Conduct a skills gap check: Ask if your workers are struggling with safety protocols, operating machinery, or lacking on-site skills
- Partner with an accredited training provider: Organizations like CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and NVQ-certified institutions offer courses like CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme), CPCS (Construction Plant Certification Scheme), which are important for construction work
- Offer on-the-job training and mentorship: Pair less experienced workers with industry veterans so that they can enhance skills in a low-pressure environment.
- Industry partnerships: Collaborate with unions and manufacturers to access projects. Partnerships are cost-effective, and most of them offer subsidies.
Case study
- James Pitsillides: A struggling construction business owner who had trouble getting profits and had to run from one job to another. With Trade Master Mind, he had the perfect mentorship that led him to deploy an upskilled workforce. That led to him achieving a £1 million target, which he doubled to £2 million in the same year.
Conclusion: Upskilling Construction Workers is More Than a Necessity for Business Growth
Business growth comes at the grassroots level, and that is by providing your construction workers with upskilling opportunities. The best that you can do is for them and your construction company. It is future-proofing your business against changing construction trends. Need help with upskilled workers? Or upskilling? Trade Master Mind helps you find the perfect workforce and increase your business with the 7 Figure Construction Business academy.
