One of the UK’s longest-established construction suppliers has launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging more young people to pursue careers in the trades amid growing concerns over the industry’s widening skills gap.
Copper tube and fittings manufacturer Lawton Tubes has unveiled ‘Lawton Next Gen’, a campaign designed to help bridge the gap between an ageing workforce and declining numbers of younger people entering construction-related careers.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of mounting labour shortages across the sector. According to CITB data, under-25s account for just 19% of the UK construction workforce, while separate research suggests more than one-third of workers could retire by 2035. Industry forecasts also estimate that around one million construction workers will be needed by 2032, including 70,000 plumbers.
Lawton Tubes, which employs 140 people and supplies industries ranging from plumbing and HVAC to medical gas, data centres and renewable energy, said it wants to play an active role in addressing the challenge.
The Lawton Next Gen campaign will include a series of short-form educational videos offering installation tips and technical guidance for plumbers and air conditioning engineers, alongside school careers fair appearances and partnerships with industry organisations promoting trade careers.
As part of the initiative, Lawton Next Gen has also become lead sponsor of InstallerFUTURES, the student and apprenticeship programme at InstallerSHOW, organised by Nineteen Group and taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 23–25 June.
Robert Lawton, Director at Lawton Tubes, said the campaign was focused on “going out to where the young people are” to showcase opportunities within the trades.
“Youth unemployment is at its worst for a decade,” he said. “Those aged 16 to 24 are our future, and so this presents a golden opportunity for tradespeople and organisations to step up and engage with these people to help narrow that gap between those entering and retiring from a trade.”
– Robert Lawton, Director at Lawton Tubes.
He added that careers such as plumbing, heating and air conditioning engineering offered long-term opportunities that were “AI-proof”, while also providing strong earning potential and pathways into business ownership.
Lawton also called on wider industry participation, urging businesses and tradespeople to collaborate on content creation and educational outreach efforts.
David Ventris-Field, Event Director at InstallerSHOW, welcomed the partnership and stressed the importance of attracting new entrants into the sector.
“With many tradespeople planning to retire in the next five years, it is utterly crucial that we inspire the next generation of talent to take up a valuable career in the trade,” he said.
“Lawton Next Gen are doing an incredible job of visiting schools, colleges and training centres. We are proud to be working with them to amplify their work and meet up with some of the young people exploring their next steps.”
– David Ventris-Field, Event Director at InstallerSHOW.
The initiative has also received support from education providers, including Dudley College of Technology, which said closer collaboration between education and industry would help improve awareness of construction career pathways among young people.
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