HUNDREDS of students have been inspired to explore careers in the homebuilding industry.
The Build Your Future 2026: Find Your Place in Homebuilding event was held in Haydock and attended by around 300 Year 8 and Year 9 pupils from 30 schools across the Liverpool City Region.
Supported by more than 20 homebuilders and over 40 industry volunteers, the event aimed to address the UK’s growing shortage of skilled workers by showcasing the wide range of roles available in the sector, from architecture and engineering to construction, planning, and sustainability.
Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "We've got big ambitions for housing and regeneration across our region, and we need to make sure local people have the skills and opportunities to be part of that future.
"That's why bringing schools and employers together is so important.
"Giving young people the chance to get stuck in, meet people working in the industry and see what different careers are really like can open doors they might never have considered."
Organised by All About Futures in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub, The Careers & Enterprise Company, the Home Builders Federation (HBF), the National House Building Council (NHBC), and other industry partners, the event emphasised the value of modern, hands-on work experience.
The homebuilding industry is currently facing significant workforce challenges, with high demand for skilled labour and a large proportion of employees nearing retirement age.
According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), 20 to 25 per cent of the current workforce is aged 50 or over.
Andy George, director of industry attraction and skills at the HBF, said: "It is important that we continue to attract the next generation into the home building industry and help young people understand the breadth of rewarding career opportunities available to them.
"Events like Build Your Future provide a valuable opportunity for students to meet employers, gain practical experience and explore career paths they may not have previously considered."
The event also supports regional efforts to improve the transition from education to employment and ensure that young people have access to meaningful career pathways.
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