Construction Sector Opens its Doors to the Next Generation

The Northern Ireland construction industry opened its doors for a week of workplace tours and interactive sessions, designed to inspire the next generation and encourage more young people to consider a career in the sector.

Open Doors Week ran from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th March 2026, giving schools, colleges, universities and those considering a career change the opportunity to visit construction sites and offices across Northern Ireland. View the full gallery here.

Students from St John The Baptist College visited the Premier Inn site at Aldergrove, hosted by JH Turkington & Sons

This year, 17 companies hosted 47 events across 28 locations, welcoming 840 visitors from across Northern Ireland, an increase of 68% on last year.

Feedback from this years’ event showed that 97% of the visitors would now consider a career in construction.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Minister for the Economy, visited the Dundonald International Ice Bowl regeneration site on Monday 12th January to mark the launch of Open Doors 2026.

 Through its Careers Service, the Department is supporting promotion of the initiative to widen access to impartial careers advice and encourage people of all ages to consider construction as a modern, inclusive and future-focused career choice.

L-R: Jenni Marshall, Education Engagement Co-Ordinator at Construction Futures; Martin O’Kane, Vice Chairman of Heron Bros and Construction Futures Board Director; Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Minister for the Economy; Fionnuala McKenna, Head of Strategic Development at Construction Futures; Mark Spence, CEO of the Construction Employers Federation; & Graeme Wilkinson, Director of Skills at the Department for the Economy.

Fionnuala McKenna of Construction Futures said:

“Open Doors provided a unique opportunity for people to experience what it’s like to work in construction. For safety reasons, it’s not usually possible to give young people direct access to live sites, so this initiative helped bring those environments to life.

By enabling the education sector to arrange visits and inspire future talent, we can help more people see the possibilities and pathways into the industry.

There is a career for everyone in construction - regardless of background, skills or interests. Planting that seed early is crucial, particularly for young people and those considering a career change.

One of the most inspiring aspects of Open Doors is hearing visitors say, ‘I never knew this job existed.’”

A wide range of employers from across Northern Ireland participated in Open Doors Week, with events spanning from Belfast to the North-West and into Fermanagh.

 Key projects included major regeneration and infrastructure sites such as Weavers Cross in Belfast, the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh, and the Dundonald International Ice Bowl redevelopment.

 Participating employers including Braidwater, Henry Brothers, Heron Brothers, GEDA, Tracey Brothers and Woodvale Construction opened their sites, alongside regional activity in areas such as Ballymena, Newry, Derry/Londonderry and Lisnaskea.

This broad geographical spread provided visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the diversity of construction projects and career pathways available across the region.

Mark Spence, Chief Executive of the Construction Employers Federation NI said:

“One of the biggest challenges facing the construction sector in Northern Ireland is the availability of skilled workers.

 Through Construction Futures, we are working together as an industry to ensure careers in construction are front-of-mind when young people are making decisions about their education, training and apprenticeships. 

While we will always need boots on the ground, we also need designers, data analysts, software engineers, marketing, HR and accountancy professionals. Open Doors gave the next generation a real insight into what they could become in the future.

We are grateful to all industry partners who supported this initiative and helped showcase the wide range of opportunities available within the construction sector.”

 Open Doors Northern Ireland is coordinated by Construction Futures, as part of Build UK’s nationwide initiative to help showcase careers in construction, at a time when the industry needs around 50,000 new workers each year, across the United Kingdom.

The initiative offers visitors a unique behind-the-scenes look at the industry, highlighting the diverse range of career paths and training opportunities available.

More workers are needed to meet rising demand for new homes and infrastructure, and many young people are surprised by the wide range of roles and skills involved.  

Students from South West College were shown around the £44m Wastewater Treatment Works by GEDA Construction in Moygashel, Dungannon.

The latest CITB Construction Workforce Outlook estimates that the industry in Northern Ireland will need to recruit around 5,000 additional workers by 2029. Open Doors plays a vital role in addressing skills shortages by connecting people directly with employers and career pathways.  

The initiative demonstrated strong collaboration across industry, education and government, with representatives from the Department for the Economy, Department of Education and Department for Communities (including their Careers Service teams) engaging directly with schools, colleges and universities across Northern Ireland.

This coordinated approach was delivered through almost 50 employer-led events, helping to showcase the breadth of career opportunities available and support the development of the future construction workforce.

Pictured at the JH Turkington visit to the Premier Inn at Aldergrove, a group of students from a local secondary school got a unique insight into life on a busy construction site.

Young students enjoying the tour of Clougher Wastewater Treatment Works with Deane Public Works.

Students join a tour of the Strule Shared Education Campus, with Woodvale Construction Company.