Open Doors 2027
1st - 5th March 2027
What is Open Doors?
Open Doors is a national careers initiative for the construction industry, delivered by Build UK in partnership with CITB and CSCS.
Open Doors sees construction companies across Northern Ireland open their sites, offices, workshops and workplaces to visitors for a week of interactive events, tours and career-focused experiences each March.
Alongside students and educators, Open Doors NI has also welcomed representatives from government departmental bodies, MLAs, local Mayors and wider industry stakeholders, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in addressing future workforce challenges.
For Open Doors 2026, the Department for the Economy joined Construction Futures as an official partner to further support the initiative and reinforce the importance of governmental backing in tackling the skills shortage facing our industry.
Open Doors has been running for over 10 years across England, then Scotland & Wales.
Construction Futures’ partnership enables Northern Irish companies to take part while having dedicated support from the Construction Futures team. The success has named NI as the second highest region.
Running in Northern Ireland from Monday 1st until Friday 5th March 2027, it gives companies a free and easy way to inspire and recruit the next generation of construction talent!
Check out the Open Doors Countdown on their website for all the key dates.
📆 Event registration for NI is now open until Friday 18th December 2027.
🎫 Booking for visitors opens on Monday 11 January 2027.
Who’s Taken Part?
Why host an Open Doors event?
Recruitment
The Construction industry needs over 40,000 new workers every year. Open Doors puts your company in front of students, parents and career changers who are exploring the industry.
Visibility
Last year more than 6,500 visitors attended 240 events across the UK. Your event appears on a national map alongside some of the industry’s biggest names, and is actively promoted to schools, colleges and jobseekers.
Simplicity
Taking part is free for CEF members. You get ready-made templates for risk assessments, visit briefs, consent forms and joining instructions, plus posters and social media graphics to promote your slots.
Flexibility
You decide how many events to host, how big the groups are and which days suit your site, so Open Doors fits around your business. Schools tend to book early, so register now!
FAQs
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Open Doors is a Build UK initiative that has been running successfully in England, Scotland and Wales for over 10 years.
In 2024, Construction Futures partnered with Build UK to bring Open Doors to Northern Ireland for the first time, launching Open Doors ’25.
The initiative sees Construction and Built Environment employers open their doors to the public, welcoming educational groups, jobseekers and career changers into live construction sites, workshops, offices and other workplaces.
Visitors are given a behind-the-scenes look at what the industry does and the wide range of roles involved in shaping the built environment.
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Companies can register to host an Open Doors event via the login section of the Open Doors website. Once registered, you will be able to:
Create a company profile
Set up one or more event listings
Access guidance, templates and resources through the host portal
The Open Doors website includes step-by-step guides to support you through this process. The Construction Futures team is also available to support you as much or as little as you need.
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Every Open Doors event is different and will depend on your location and type of workplace. However, most events typically include:
A welcome and sign-in
A health and safety briefing, including PPE where required
An introduction to your company and the project or work taking place
A site tour or walk-through, with planned stopping points
Opportunities to learn about different roles, trades and career pathways
Interactive or hands-on activities to bring the visit to life
Hands-on activities might include laying a brick, handling materials, using equipment such as a total station, or taking part in activities like construction bingo or a scavenger hunt to reinforce learning in an engaging way.
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The length of your event will depend on your location, audience and planned activities. As a guide, we recommend:
Minimum: 1 hour
Maximum: 3 hours
Shorter sessions work well for younger visitors, while longer sessions can be suitable for post-primary students, apprentices, or adult career changers.
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When creating your event, you can choose whether it is open to:
Educational groups only, or
Both educational groups and the general public
We recommend reaching out directly to any local schools, colleges or universities you already have relationships with to let them know your event is taking place. Construction Futures will also promote Open Doors events to schools, colleges and universities across Northern Ireland.
Visitor bookings typically open on the second Monday in January, with all bookings made via the Open Doors website. If you would like to secure spaces directly with a group before bookings open, please contact Construction Futures and they will support you with this.
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Key preparation points include:
Planning an engaging session (avoid ‘death by PowerPoint’ where possible!)
Completing a risk assessment for the event and event space
Ensuring you have sufficient and appropriate PPE for all visitors
Involving a range of people from your organisation, including different roles, ages and career stages
Checking dietary requirements in advance if providing refreshments and avoiding nuts
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Yes. However, photo consent is required, particularly for visitors under the age of 18.
Schools will usually have consent processes in place and teachers should inform you if any students do not have permission to be photographed.
A photo consent template is available in the resources section of your Open Doors host portal.
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Firstly, do not panic.
Contact the main booking contact as soon as possible using the email address or phone number provided
Then notify the Construction Futures team
Construction Futures will support you with next steps and communications if required.
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In the Run-Up to Your Event
Confirm bookings and main contacts
Complete and review risk assessments
Prepare visitor information / visit guide
Confirm staffing and roles on the day
Arrange PPE and materials
Check dietary requirements if applicable
Send final information and photo consent forms at least one week before the event
On the Day of the Event
Set up welcome point and signage
Prepare sign-in and PPE distribution
Deliver safety briefing
Keep group sizes manageable and complete headcounts
Monitor timing and visitor engagement
Share next steps and encourage feedback completion
What do the companies think about Open Doors?
DEADLINE to register for Open Doors 2027 in Northern Ireland is
Friday 18th December 2026
