The UK Futures Programme’s first competition is focused on designing solutions to problems facing the off-site construction industry.

The Competition brief is specifically aimed at addressing skills deficiencies in the off-site construction sector .

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) is inviting applications for public contribution to innovative projects which aim to tackle barriers to the development of the off-site construction industry, with a specific emphasis on skills. Proposals must be business-led and backed with private co-investment.

A webinar briefing for interested parties will be held on Tuesday 3rd June. The deadline for submission of proposals is midday on Wednesday 18th June with interviews for shortlisted bids on Thursday 24th, Friday 25th, and Monday 28th July. Successful proposals will be announced by Friday 15th August.

The UK has one of the largest construction sectors in Europe and has the potential to benefit from the forecast growth in the global construction market to 2025. UK construction firms have also been successful in international markets to the tune of £1.2bn of exports in 2010.

Off-site construction is among a range of modern methods of construction that is increasingly driven by technology, with the potential to change the way the construction industry builds and operates. The competition is focussing on the larger scale type of assembly, including large scale modules and panelised systems, units of fully enclosed space and complete buildings.

It also has potential in the water sector – in January Balfour Beatty signed an exclusive partnership and licence agreement with US pre-cast construction specialist Dutchland to provide concrete tanks to the water and wastewater industry in the UK and Ireland.

Opportunities across the supply chain

At the moment only a small proportion of construction occurs in the UK – estimates for 2013 suggest the current value of the sector is likely to be seven per cent of total construction output with a potential to achieve much more. The opportunities reach beyond the sector through the supply chain -off-site construction has close links with manufacturing as prefabricated components and materials are assembled in factories before moving to an onsite construction environment.

According to UKCES, weak demand in the UK has suppressed the market for off-site, with industry reluctant to adopt innovative technologies, and financiers and insurers unwilling to invest in what are seen as new, untested technologies.

However, the market for off-site is more established in Scandinavia, Austria and Germany and there are real opportunities for the UK to compete globally in what UKCES describes as “a buoyant international marketplace.”

UKCES research with employers in the off-site construction industry identified a series of skills challenges holding back the potential of the sector.

The competition is looking for innovative proposals that will develop, test and/or scale collaborative, employer-led solutions to address one or more of them. Key issues identified in the brief include a  need for greater collaboration between professionals  in off-site construction, more effective project management,  good design and IT skills and effective marketing and business development capabilities.

UKCES says multi-skilling, interdisciplinary collaboration and greater flexibility within a number of job roles is crucial if the UK construction industry is to exploit the potential of off-site construction.

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