Construct the future students!

Transition year students have just one month left to take part in a competition to design eco-friendly, affordable housing.

The CIF Build the Future – Schools Challenge is a team-based project where students are challenged to design residential housing while addressing sustainability and climate change. Designs must also work to help solve the housing crisis and showcase innovation in construction.

The competition is designed to address the growing skill shortage identified by the Irish construction industry’s representative body (CIF) and the National Skills Council.

The winning team will present their designs at the Ireland Skills Live Event in the RDS and will receive a day’s ‘construction experience’ provided by Technical University Dublin and a TOPCON Complete construction package to include most up to date laser equipment and half day instruction, as well as a prize for each of team members.

A recent report published by CIF shows that there is an alarming shortage of skills within the construction sector.

For example, to achieve an annual average of 33,000 over the decade, housing completions would need to ramp up from the current annual output of approximately 20,000 in 2020, to 33,000 by 2025, before peaking at around 40,000 at the end of the decade.

This will require an additional 27,500 workers across all levels, including architects, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and joiners.

The competition will run until 31 January with judging taking place until mid-March. To enter, visit cif.ie/cifchallenge before the end of this month.