Further Education leaders from across Wales gathered at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) for a showcase event celebrating the success of Not Business As Usual – a pioneering 18-month project that brought Further Education (FE), Higher Education (HE) and industry together to transform how sustainable construction skills are taught and applied.
Now successfully concluded, the project exceeded its original targets, training 557 beneficiaries against an initial goal of 420. Participants ranged from secondary school pupils and FE students to construction professionals and FE lecturers, demonstrating the project’s wide reach across the education and construction skills pipeline.
Collaborative approach to closing skills gaps
Led by the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) in collaboration with staff from UWTSD’s School of Architecture, Construction and the Environment (ACE), the project focused on addressing skills gaps linked to low-carbon, high-performance and net-zero buildings.
At the heart of the programme was the development of 10 new practical, hands-on and interactive short training sessions, aligned directly with the School’s three core subject areas. Topics included:
- Building Envelope Design
- Digital Technologies for Construction
- Sustainable Urban Drainage and Catchment Hydrology
- Sustainable construction materials and techniques
The immersive, practice-based approach helped demystify complex concepts that are often difficult to teach without specialist facilities. As part of the project, bespoke teaching materials, learning resources and practical tools were developed to support long-term delivery.
Supporting FE educators through CPD
A key strand of Not Business As Usual was Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for FE staff. CWIC hosted a series of CPD sessions for lecturers from Coleg Ceredigion, Coleg Menai, Pembrokeshire College and The College Merthyr Tydfil.
Delivered in collaboration with CSG’s Inspiring Skills Team, the programme strengthened links between FE and HE providers and supported greater consistency in sustainable construction teaching across Wales.
Sessions were delivered by Ian Brown, Matthew Drummond and Brandon Roberts from UWTSD, alongside additional practical workshops using CWIC’s specialist facilities.
Hands-on learning for students
The project also delivered tangible benefits for learners. Students from Gower College Swansea, Ysgol Bae Baglan, Dylan Thomas Community School, Ysgol Ystalyfera, Queen Elizabeth High School, Neath Port Talbot College and Pembrokeshire College, among others, took part in hands-on learning experiences at UWTSD’s SA1 Waterfront campus.
Using eco-friendly materials such as locally sourced timber and sustainable insulation, students gained practical insight into best-practice installation techniques and how these contribute to reducing the environmental impact of buildings.
Driving change across Wales
Funded through the Swansea Bay City Deal as part of the Construct Net Zero Cymru programme, Not Business As Usual has helped promote environmentally responsible construction practices across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Gareth Evans, Head of the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC), said:
“The Not Business As Usual showcase was a powerful opportunity to bring Further and Higher Education together with industry and demonstrate what sustainable construction looks like in practice.
By sharing the outcomes of this project, we are supporting educators and learners to embed low-carbon thinking, fabric-first design and innovative building techniques into teaching and training. Hands-on learning is essential if we are to equip the next generation with the skills needed to deliver net-zero buildings and drive real change across the sector.”
Recognising that construction can no longer continue as “business as usual”, the project demonstrates the value of close collaboration between FE, HE and industry in responding to Wales’s skills needs and climate ambitions, while helping to build a workforce capable of delivering a net-zero built environment.
