Moulton College

55 workshop attendees from industry and academia

Important insights fed into future course design and curricula

In 2022, Moulton College, an industry-led college based in Northamptonshire, partnered with the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and Constructing Excellence Midlands to deliver a Construction Future Skills event at its main campus.

This comprised a hands-on exhibition to showcase new construction technologies and a facilitated workshop bringing together senior representatives from construction, the College tutors and leadership team, Government officials and students.

Challenge

Moulton College, the NFB and Constructing Excellence Midlands wanted to get industry dialogue and views on the skills needed in construction over the next 5-10 years. What should colleges be teaching students to best prepare them for the future, and be doing now to remain relevant to the UK construction industry and overcome employers' future skills challenges?

LMC was appointed to help facilitate a workshop with more than 50 participants and to write up the results. We were also tasked with helping to create a day-long, hands-on exhibition of new technologies, particularly digital applications and robotics, and technologies that facilitate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction - innovations which would be particularly useful for students in their teens and early twenties to learn about now.

A presenter stands at a whiteboard during a workshop session while seated and standing attendees listen and engage. The room features vertical striped walls in orange, tan, and brown tones, with flip charts displaying notes visible on the left side. A banner reading "Communication Skills" is partially visible in the background among the diverse group of participants. — The event explored the role of new innovations to boost productivity, to deliver a more sustainable built environment and to attract new talent into construction qualifications and careers.

Strategy

Our LMC team comprised trained facilitators, PR, event management and media specialists to partner with Moulton's in-house marketing team. Drawing upon our industry connections, we identified suitable exhibitors, and after scoping the College’s potential venues, we designed the workshop and content, facilitating on the day to encourage participation and insight from all attendees.

When the then Construction Minister Lee Rowley MP confirmed his attendance, our PR and media plans stepped up another level at short notice to secure him and Moulton College interviews on the day, and to use striking event photos to gain post-event coverage too.

Results

A man in a dark suit sits in a racing simulator cockpit while two other men in business attire observe and discuss the display. The simulator shows an urban racing scene on a large screen in an industrial warehouse setting with "TENSTAR" branding visible in the background.

Lee Rowley MP, Construction Minister, 2022

"What we saw today was a fantastic example of how we're trying to link people who could be, should be, and want to be in this industry with companies who want to employ them. The more we can do this, and show the people the skills and opportunities out there in construction, the better."