Actuate UK, a member of the Engineering Building Services Skills Alliance (EBSSA), welcomes the publication of the Construction Jobs Plan that calls for close partnership with engineering and building services sectors to turn its ambitions into a skilled, competent workforce.
This is an important step towards building the skilled workforce needed to deliver the UK’s growth, housing, infrastructure and clean energy ambitions. The plan recognizes the importance and integral part that the Engineering and Building Services sector play in realising these ambitions.
Engineering and building services must also be at the heart of the plan’s delivery. Construction needs the sector’s expertise and a strong pipeline of skilled and competent electrical, plumbing, HVAC and other specialist workers.
Actuate UK and other EBSSA members recognise the challenge ahead and share the industry’s commitment to find solutions and resolve barriers in order to deliver on the plan’s objectives. Success must mean more than bringing more people into construction. It must support clear, industry-recognised routes into occupational competence, increased productivity and lasting skilled employment.
Gautier Jacob, CEO of Dalkia UK and engineering and building services representative on the Construction Skills Mission Boad, said:
“Engineering and building services are fundamental to delivering the Government’s ambitions for new homes, infrastructure and clean energy. We employ 30% of the built-environment workforce, and typically account for 40-60% of construction project value. More than 99% of firms are SMEs.
“Businesses, EBSSA and other sector bodies stand ready to work with Government and the wider built environment to support the Jobs Plan. We need to find practical ways to resolve the persistent bottlenecks to training so that we can achieve more skilled, competent people working in engineering and building services. This, in turn, depends on more employers – and especially SME employers – having the confidence and resources to recruit and train.”
Engineering Services Alliance, Actuate UK, has joined as an official industry partner for the UK’s only HVAC-R event dedicated to advancing the efficiency of commercial, industrial and large-scale residential buildings. Taking place on 25–26 November 2026 at Excel London.
Actuate UK InstallerSHOW2026 Partnership. InstallerSHOW 2026 isn’t just another exhibition; it’s a truly transformative event for the installation, trades and built environment sectors. If you’re an installer, builder, carpenter, electrician, decorator or business owner connected to any aspect of installation or the built environment, InstallerSHOW 2026 promises to be the most practical, innovative and rewarding edition yet.
Actuate UK, welcomes Government’s intention to act on its proposed reforms on late payments and take legislative measures to ban the use of retentions in construction contracts. Actuate UK and its members have been calling for a legislative change to stop the payment abuse of cash retentions in construction. We will continue to engage with Government and our members to ensure the implementation of this action is effective and drives the cultural change in our industry towards a safer and higher-quality built environment.