Social media might dominate headlines, but in Scunthorpe and across the UK, the real story is happening on building sites. While millions chase attention online, the construction industry faces a growing crisis: not enough skilled workers to meet demand.

The Local Picture

The UK needs almost 240,000 new construction workers by 2029; about 47,000 every single year (CITB). Here in the Humber and Lincolnshire region, where industries are expanding and major infrastructure projects are on the horizon, this shortage is already being felt. Employers are struggling to fill vacancies, apprenticeships are undersubscribed, and workloads are stretching thinner each year.

In short: there’s plenty of work. But not enough hands.

The Risk of a Lost Generation

Younger people are naturally drawn to what feels glamorous and immediate. Social media is part of that. But chasing digital clout won’t address the skills gap, and it won’t keep the construction industry -or the local economy- moving forward.

The danger isn’t that young people prefer TikTok. It’s that employers and communities allow this gap to widen by not offering the pathways, training, and encouragement that could bring them in.

Why Business Owners Should Care

You don’t need to be a training provider to make a difference. Businesses large and small can:

• Offer apprenticeships - not just as cheap labour, but as a genuine route into the industry.
• Promote construction as a career - when talking to schools, families, and local networks.
• Invest in training - so that the workforce you already have can pass on their knowledge before it’s lost.

Because here’s the truth: if we don’t collectively encourage and train the next wave, the shortage will only grow. That means higher labour costs, longer project delays, and lost opportunities, for businesses and for the local economy.

I know this first-hand. After school, university wasn’t for me. I chose an apprenticeship in Business and Administration, and it was the foundation of everything I do today. It taught me real skills, gave me confidence, and opened doors.

That’s why I believe so strongly in the power of apprenticeships, not just as a tick-box for government targets, but as a life-changing path. Apprenticeships turn potential into professionalism.

A Collective Responsibility

This isn’t about telling young people to log off TikTok. It’s about employers, business owners, and communities recognising the gap and stepping up to do something about it. We need to change the narrative. Not “university or nothing.” Not “cheap labour.” But “this is a respected profession where you can build a life.”

The UK doesn’t just need more content creators. It needs more electricians, joiners, plumbers, ground-workers, engineers, and project managers. And the responsibility for making that happen sits with all of us; particularly business owners who can provide those first steps.

Because the trades don’t just need the next generation. They need you.