Hercules has published a new white paper, The Skills Gulf, highlighting why the UK construction and infrastructure labour shortage matters.
Britain has major building and infrastructure ambitions, but delivery depends on having enough trained workers. Hercules points to three million new homes and more than 150 major infrastructure projects in the pipeline, including Sizewell C, water networks, energy networks and other nationally important schemes.
Demand for labour is high, but supply remains tight. The Construction Industry Training Board estimates that around 250,000 additional construction workers will be needed between 2024 and 2028. If that gap is not addressed, projects may face delays, rising labour costs and weaker delivery certainty.
For companies serving the construction and infrastructure markets, this makes workforce capability a key differentiator. Hercules is positioning itself around that need through labour supply, training and technology. The company launched the Hercules Academy in 2024 and says it has already trained 2,000 people since launch.
The paper argues that apprenticeships and other “earn and learn” routes are central to solving the problem. This can help employers build a more reliable pipeline of workers while giving young people, career changers and local communities a practical route into long-term employment.
Hercules also points to structural reasons behind the shortage. The workforce is ageing, fewer young people are entering the sector, and Brexit, the pandemic and wider economic pressures have all added strain. These issues are unlikely to be solved quickly, which gives the skills challenge a longer-term investment relevance.
Hercules plc (LON:HERC) is a collaborative, innovative company delivering services of the highest standards within the Civil Engineering sector of the construction industry. Hercules Academy provides a comprehensive range of courses designed to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge required for a long and successful career in the construction industry.
