At Conlon Construction, we believe the rising number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) presents a major challenge not only for young people themselves, but for the future of the construction industry.

With NEET figures projected to grow from 1 in 8 young people to 1 in 6, the sector risks deepening an already significant skills shortage unless employers, government and schools work together to act now.

It’s a challenge we’re committed to playing our part in addressing.

During 2025, we delivered 1,274 apprentice weeks and 32 work experience weeks across our North West projects. We also delivered 26 educational activities, reaching more than 1,100 students through careers fairs, site visits and school assemblies.

For our Chairman, Guy Parker, the scale of the challenge is structural rather than a lack of appetite from either young people or employers.

“If NEET numbers rise as projected, the impact on our industry over the next five to ten years is a severe workforce deficit. We’ll struggle to replace retiring tradespeople, projects will slow, labour costs will rise and we risk losing legacy skills to an ageing workforce. The problem isn’t that there’s no want or no need – it’s structural.”

Construction is uniquely placed to be part of the solution because young people don’t necessarily need previous experience to begin building a career within the industry.

Guy continued:

“Entry-level jobs increasingly demand prior experience, which traps young people in a catch-22. Construction relies on structured, on-the-job learning by design. It bypasses that barrier completely.”

At Conlon, our own approach continues to evolve. This year, we’ve taken on degree apprentices in quantity surveying, with a finance degree apprentice under consideration and construction management degree apprentices planned for early next year.

This sits alongside our continued support for T Level placements and our long-standing relationship with Preston Vocational Centre, helping us create different routes into the industry for young people at different stages of their education.

But individual employers can only do so much. Guy is calling for a more coordinated response across government, education and industry, including:

• Targeted SME incentives to reduce the perceived risk of taking on apprentices
• Funding for meaningful work placements, rather than classroom-based training alone
• Construction reinstated as a genuine option within school careers guidance, helping to tackle lingering stigma around vocational careers among some parents and teachers
• Greater involvement from industry bodies such as the CITB, including Trailblazer apprenticeship standards

“Modernise vocational pathways and treat T Levels and apprenticeships as equal to academic routes, not a fallback,” Guy said. “Make the opportunities sound as exciting as they are. This industry is moving towards green retrofitting, smart construction and modern methods of construction. Many of the jobs today’s school leavers will do haven’t been invented yet.”

We also recognise that attracting people into construction is only the beginning. As an industry, we have a responsibility to support them once they arrive.

At Conlon, our health scheme, regular staff health checks and dedicated men’s health workshops form part of a broader commitment to creating a workplace in which apprentices and colleagues can develop, thrive and build long-term careers.

Guy’s message to other construction SMEs considering whether to invest in apprenticeships is simple:

“Don’t wait. Growing our own talent is the only way to protect our future – and, frankly, the only way some businesses will survive the next decade.”

As a Lancashire Ambassador, Guy is also helping champion the county and the opportunities its businesses can create for the next generation.

He concluded:

“This is exactly why I got involved as a Lancashire Ambassador in the first place. The Ambassadors aren’t just advocates for the county – we’re investors in its future, and nowhere is that truer than in how we bring young people into our industries. Every apprentice we take on at Conlon is a vote of confidence in Lancashire’s next generation, and it’s a commitment I know is shared right across the Ambassador group. We’re united by pride in this county, but pride only counts for something if you back it up with action – making connections, sharing opportunities and using whatever platform you have to create real impact. Tackling the NEET challenge isn’t someone else’s job. It’s ours.”