Construction must keep recruiting new talent, says infrastructure consultancy AECOM.

The chancellor has already announced more than £100bn in capital spending over the next five years, meaning the built environment will need even more new recruits to ensure projects are delivered in the years ahead.

Colin Wood, chief executive Europe and India at AECOM, said the business recruited hundreds of people to its graduate and apprenticeship schemes every year – with 2025 set to see an even greater need for construction talent.

The comments come following the ACE Emerging Professionals Winter Reception, held on December 12.

Organised by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), the event was held in partnership with AECOM and brought together young and emerging talent from across the sector.

“Every year, our graduate and apprenticeship programme recruits hundreds of promising individuals,” said Wood.

“This is hugely beneficial to both AECOM and the wider sector, as the new talent that we bring into technical and engineering disciplines helps address the skills gap, shaping those who will become the future of our industry, while also bringing in fresh ideas and new ways of thinking.”

AECOM supports graduates’ and apprentices’ technical skills development as they work towards professional accreditation.

Its two-year development programme, ADVANCE, is also designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the industry, enhancing academic knowledge while, crucially, also allowing them to put this into practice on live projects.

Wood added: “Right now, there is so much opportunity when it comes to building a career in the built environment.

“As a global employer, AECOM teams across the world are collaborating on some of the most notable infrastructure projects of our time.

“A career in this space does not just provide a lifetime of experiences, but also has the potential to be truly rewarding through the central role we play in developing solutions for achieving net zero and supporting the global energy transition.

“We regularly hear from our graduates that one of the great things about working for AECOM is being able to have an impact on the environment and on the communities that benefit from new infrastructure projects.”

Wood added: “The UK Government has laid out plans to invest more than £100bn in capital expenditure in areas such as schools, energy, transport, healthcare and housing over the next five years.

“It is clear that the private sector, with our deep skills and expertise, will need to play a central role in ensuring these complex programmes are successfully delivered.”

Click here to view a gallery of images from the ACE Emerging Professionals Winter Reception