University warns UK faces ‘one million worker gap’ in the built environment by 2030
Posted on: 16 September, 2025
The UK will need nearly one million additional workers in the built environment sector by 2030 if it is to meet its housing, infrastructure and retrofit ambitions – that was the stark message from the University of the Built Environment at a recent summit.
The University’s Vice Chancellor, Ashley Wheaton, and Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Partnerships, Aled Williams, joined high-profile panels at the Supply Chain Sustainability School Summit, which gathered leading voices from industry, government and academia.
Aled took part in ‘Building for Good – How New Ways of Building can Tackle Key Society Issues’. He underlined the scale of the workforce challenge: around 50,000 additional people are needed each year to maintain business-as-usual delivery, with a further 100,000 annually to keep pace with future demand.
He said: “When energy, retrofit, net zero, water and infrastructure are included, by 2030, the industry will need approximately one million additional people to ensure current and future industry resilience, as we have an ageing workforce.”
He argued for a more integrated approach to talent pipelines across education, industry and government, stressing that training must be linked to predictable pipelines of work so employers can invest with confidence.
“Training without clarity is wasted effort and clarity without training is unmet needs; together they drive diversity, leadership and culture,” he said.
National ambition and delivery capacity
Ashley spoke during a panel discussion on ‘Retrofitting for the Future: People, Processes and Strategies in Sustainable Renovation’.
He emphasised that policy consistency and long-term funding cycles are crucial if further education colleges, universities and specialist training providers are to scale the right programmes, recruit the necessary tutors and invest in facilities that keep pace with technological advancements in retrofit.
He highlighted persistent gaps between national ambition and delivery capacity, arguing that attraction must be matched with progression routes and timely, modular learning that builds competence at pace.
Long-term workforce strategy
Aled concluded: “Meeting the UK’s ambitions on homes, infrastructure and retrofit depends on a workforce strategy that is long-term and outcomes focused.
“It requires clarity about future demand, coherent pathways into roles and a culture that retains people by providing sustainable and rewarding careers.
“It also requires economic and regulatory systems that reward low-carbon performance so that the numbers stack up for clients and the supply chain.”
At the University of the Built Environment, we will continue to work with industry partners, professional bodies and policymakers to expand flexible programmes that support new entrants and help the current workforce reskill and upskill – building the competence and capacity needed for a sustainable built environment.
Browse our courses for your next step into improving the built environment.
