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Building the Leaders that Build Britain:
Why Leadership is the Foundation of the Sector’s Future
Damini Sharma | 11th June 2025 | 4 mins
The construction industry quite literally builds Britain. We shape cities, power communities, and deliver the housing, infrastructure and services that keep the nation moving. But as the scale of delivery grows, so too does the pressure on the people making it happen.
Labour has committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes during this parliamentary term. At the same time, we face growing demand across infrastructure, transport, education, healthcare and retrofit, all of which depend on a capable, resilient, future-ready workforce.
And right now, one thing is missing. Leadership.
The Gap We Can’t Afford to Ignore
Leadership is the single most overlooked skill in the construction industry. While we invest heavily in technical capability, there is no consistent route for developing the people who manage performance, risk, culture and compliance.
Those pressures are being felt across the workforce, from supervisors and team leads to project managers and functional leads. These individuals are expected to hold everything together – often with limited training and few of the structured development opportunities that exist in other professions.
This is not a training gap. It is a leadership gap and it is costing the industry daily. We see it in high turnover, poor retention, inconsistent delivery and growing compliance risks. Over 60% of people promoted into construction leadership roles report receiving no formal development before taking on responsibility for others. That’s unsustainable – and it’s holding us back.
A National Campaign for Industry-Wide Change
Building the Leaders that Build Britain is a national campaign to put leadership development at the centre of how we grow, deliver and futureproof the construction sector.
This isn’t a programme. It’s a movement, backed by policy leaders, employers, training providers, industry bodies and practitioners across the UK. Together, we are creating a new leadership culture – one that recognises, supports and grows leaders at all levels and across all disciplines.
At the core of this work is a simple shift: leadership must be treated as a skilled profession in its own right – not something you pick up along the way.
What the Campaign Offers
The campaign combines structured, impactful support for employers and individuals with deep industry insight and long-term planning. Through Building the Leaders that Build Britain, The OM Group is:
- Helping employers build practical succession plans and internal leadership pipelines
- Designing clear progression routes that reflect real operational needs
- Delivering nationally recognised qualifications, including the CITB-funded CILM Level 3 and the industry-specific ILM Level 5
- Providing flexible, tailored learning options that fit around work and delivery schedules
- Supporting employers to secure funding, reduce cost burdens and maximise participation
- Leading impact studies with employers and industry partners to evidence ROI and measurable improvements
- Working directly with local authorities, housing associations, national contractors, SMEs, and supply chain partners to make leadership development accessible to everyone involved in the sector
This is about more than courses. It’s about creating a confident, resilient, future-ready workforce, one that can meet today’s delivery demands while building long-term strength for the sector.
Why Now Matters
The next three years will define the next thirty. The homes we build, the infrastructure we deliver, and the way we respond to regulatory, environmental and economic pressures will shape Britain’s future. We cannot achieve any of it without leaders.
And right now, too many are being set up to fail, through no fault of their own. We need to change that.
Leadership is not just about senior titles or board-level roles. It’s about behaviours, influence, responsibility and the ability to deliver under pressure. That exists at every level of our industry and it must be developed and supported as such.
Get Involved
Whether you’re an SME, a supply chain partner, a Tier 1 contractor, a local council, a housing association, or a growing business in the built environment – we want to work with you.
Join the campaign and we will:
- Help you map your current leadership capability and development needs
- Co-design a leadership offer that aligns with your workforce structure and project goals
- Support you to access funding and reduce internal barriers
- Offer recognised qualifications, bespoke programmes, and learning that fits around your people
- Work with you to track the impact – not just in learner outcomes but in delivery, retention and team performance
- Connect you with other forward-thinking employers, policy shapers and training bodies who are committed to changing the way leadership is developed in our industry
If we want to build 1.5 million homes, achieve net zero, transform infrastructure and comply with changing regulation – we must build a new kind of leader.
Contact us today or book a call with our team. Be part of the movement. Let’s build the leaders that will build Britain.