The government’s newly unveiled Infrastructure Pipeline is a welcome step towards strategic foresight. A tool that maps upcoming infrastructure demand against workforce capacity is, in principle, exactly what our sector needs. But the success of this initiative hinges not on data-gathering alone—it depends on action.
At Atrium Associates, we see the reality on the ground every day. Projects are delayed not for lack of funding or ambition, but because the people simply aren’t there. Skilled trades, experienced project managers, civil engineers—these are roles we struggle to fill right now, never mind with a £700 billion pipeline on the horizon.
The idea of forecasting where demand will be is sound. But a map is only useful if it helps you reach the destination. That destination must be a fully resourced, futureproofed workforce.
There are three critical steps that must follow this mapping exercise:
Connect the pipeline to proper training and wages
It’s one thing to identify a shortage of site managers by 2027—but unless we invest in practical apprenticeships, fast-track training for career changers, and improved outreach to schools and colleges, that forecast won’t change a thing. It must also pay to enter the trades. We can’t build modern Britain on minimum wage expectations.Take a balanced approach to immigration
The current labour shortfall isn’t theoretical—it’s happening now. Post-Brexit restrictions have tightened supply at the exact moment demand is booming. A sensible, short-term visa programme for key construction roles could provide relief, especially if tied to a commitment to train UK-based workers in parallel. We must stop treating immigration policy and infrastructure strategy as separate issues.Offer certainty—and follow through
Industry needs clarity. The pipeline should be reviewed and refreshed regularly, with transparent updates on planning approvals, procurement schedules, and any delays. Too often, ambition is announced while delivery gets bogged down in red tape. Without consistency, confidence erodes, and with it, investment in workforce development.
At Atrium Associates, we work at the coalface of construction recruitment. We see clearly how underinvestment in people stalls progress. The most sophisticated infrastructure plan in history will mean nothing if we don’t have the boots on the ground to build it.
This pipeline must be more than a spreadsheet of projects—it must be the start of a joined-up strategy for skills, training, and sustainable employment. Industry is ready. We’re already engaging with FE colleges, offering on-site training placements, and supporting businesses to build robust hiring strategies. But we can’t do it alone.
Government must now:
Provide funded, accessible training programmes for new entrants,
Remove bureaucratic barriers that hold up progress,
Adopt a pragmatic, targeted approach to skilled worker visas,
And ensure the Infrastructure Pipeline leads to real, tangible job creation.
The opportunity is enormous—but so is the risk of repeating the past. Let’s not map demand and forget to deliver on supply.
With the right people in the right roles, we can build a Britain fit for the future.
– Atrium Associates