The UK is facing a perfect storm in the construction industry. The demand for new homes is skyrocketing, yet the sector is grappling with a severe shortage of skilled workers and rising costs. The construction industry training board estimates by 2028 the UK needs 251,500 additional workers to meet current housing and infrastructure demands.
We’re going to explore the issues the construction industry faces and how Sano’s CoreMods addresses these shortfalls.
You’d think with the advent of AI that more workers are looking to professions that can’t be replaced by technology. To some extent that is true, but it’s not enough to make up the shortfall the UK is facing. The pathway to apprenticeships exists, and young people are encouraged to participate but the ‘university first’ sentiment remains strong within the UK, and indeed in Western Europe too. Only 13% of young people report being encouraged to consider a trade, leading to a perception that these careers are low-prestige or a last resort, which is completely false.
The pathway to learning a trade is broken. Small businesses (SMEs), which provide the majority of training, are struggling with rising National Insurance and wage costs. This has led to a 59% non-completion rate for construction apprenticeships, as many find the low starting pay unsustainable during a cost-of-living crisis. The government, if it wishes to address the dwindling workforce, must provide more funding.
It’s not just the lack of skilled workers, but mobilising the remaining skilled workers the UK has left. The traditional construction model relies heavily on a mobile workforce, with workers traveling from one site to another, often over long distances. This constant movement is not only logistically complex but also extremely expensive. Costs for travel, accommodation, and site setup add up quickly and significantly increase the overall cost of construction projects. This burden is particularly acutely felt in remote areas or locations with limited infrastructure, further exacerbating the housing crisis in these regions.
OK- we have a serious issue on our hands. What’s the solution?
Amidst this challenging landscape, we’ve developed a hybrid modular system that addresses the root causes of the UK construction crisis by introducing a factory-built, modular approach to home construction, CoreMods.
Instead of relying on a scattered, mobile workforce, Sano's CoreMods provides the system to manufacture housing in a controlled factory environment. This centralised approach allows for the concentration of skilled workers in a single location, creating a stable and efficient workforce that is less susceptible to the challenges of mobility. The core modules provide your MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) requirements for the home and the superstructure (the rest of the house) can be built around to whatever specification your site needs.
The factory setting also enables the scaling of production in a way that is impossible with traditional construction methods. CoreMods can be manufactured quickly and efficiently, using specialized machinery and standardised processes, significantly reducing construction timelines and costs. This streamlined production process allows for a rapid ramp-up in the number of homes that can be built, helping to address the pressing housing shortage.
Beyond the skills and mobility challenges, Sano's CoreMods offer other compelling advantages. The factory-built approach generates less waste and consumes fewer resources than traditional construction, making it a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution. Furthermore, the reduced construction time and centralized workforce lead to significant cost savings, making homes built with CoreMods more affordable for buyers.
The UK construction crisis requires bold and innovative solutions. Sano's CoreMods offer a powerful and practical way to overcome the skills shortage, reduce construction costs, and rapidly scale the production of new homes. By embracing this disruptive technology, the UK can not only address the immediate housing shortage but also create a more resilient and sustainable construction industry for the future. The time to transform the way we build is now, and Sano's CoreMods are leading the way.
