Construction Disrupted Episode 90 - Invest in the Future of Construction (05.11.25)
In this episode, we dive into three major developments shaping the future of the UK’s economy and industries. From addressing the £400 billion AI skills gap to rebuilding Britain’s infrastructure and analysing industrial advertising trends, we explore how these initiatives are driving growth, innovation, and sustainability. Join us as we uncover the challenges, opportunities, and transformative strategies that are setting the stage for the UK’s future.
Help for UK businesses to fill £400bn AI skills gap
- A new report by Skills England highlights a significant AI skills gap in the UK workforce, which could hinder businesses from unlocking up to £400 billion in economic growth by 2030.
- Three innovative tools have been launched to address this gap:
- AI Skills Framework: Identifies technical, responsible, and non-technical skills required for various job roles.
- AI Skills Adoption Pathway Model: Guides organisations through stages of AI adoption, from awareness to scaling.
- Employer AI Adoption Checklist: Helps businesses assess their AI readiness and identify workforce gaps.
Rebuilding Britain
- The UK Government’s ambitious 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy aims to deliver resilient, decarbonised, and digitally enabled infrastructure to drive economic growth and sustainability.
- Key recommendations include:
- Accelerating Project Delivery: Appointing a dedicated infrastructure minister, streamlining planning processes, and incentivising high-quality design.
- AI-First Infrastructure Delivery: Leveraging AI for cost optimisation, faster project delivery, and real-time asset management.
- Unlocking Private Investment: Reimagining public-private partnerships and enhancing government capabilities to attract private sector investment.
WARC Expenditure Review
- The AA/WARC Expenditure Report reveals that industrial advertising was the only category to register growth in display spend in Q2 2025, up 1.8%.
- Total UK adspend rose by 9.1% in Q2 2025, driven by online formats like search and online display, which accounted for 83.3% of overall adspend.
- VOD (Video on Demand) emerged as the fastest-growing medium, combining TV’s effectiveness with digital’s targeted delivery and measurable outcomes.
Bios
Ryan Jones - SLG Agency
For almost 20 years, Ryan’s focus has been on helping brands in the construction and manufacturing sectors tell their story.
His career began in PR, working for global businesses across a variety of sectors, before opting to focus on construction and the built environment.
In his role as Managing Director, Ryan works to ensure that SLG Agency continues to be one of the construction industry's leading specialist strategic...
