Stepping on site to get up close to a live construction project can have a real and lasting impact on young people still deciding on their future career paths. 

Seeing first-hand how different roles come together to make a project happen, and potentially being able to imagine themselves in each of these roles, can be an important factor when it comes to making decisions about future career paths. 

The opportunity to talk with staff about their own career paths, the day-to-day rhythms of their jobs, and the benefits and career progression available, can also be important. 

Collaborating on Open Doors 2026 

To help encourage more companies to host workplace tours for the next generation of workers, CIOB has signed up as an industry partner for Open Doors 2026 between Monday 23 and Saturday 28 March. Run by Build UK in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), the event sees companies across the UK host pre-booked tours of their sites, offices, manufacturing facilities and training centres to showcase the variety of careers available in construction. 

With CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook report estimating that the industry needs to recruit around 50,000 extra workers each year to meet demand for housing, infrastructure and maintenance, Build UK is aiming to build on the record 7,000 visitors it welcomed across more than 260 events in March 2025.

Nearly nine out of 10 visitors to Open Doors 2025 said that they’d be more likely to consider a career in construction after their visit, proving that giving people the chance to see first-hand the wide range of roles available and meet the teams has the potential to inspire long-lasting career choices.

Hosting an Open Doors event 

In order to host Open Doors events you must:

• Hold suitable and sufficient insurance
• Carry out a risk assessment and method statement for the planned activity
• Provide suitable and sufficient personal protective equipment (if required).  Please follow the Safety Helmet Colours Standard where possible i.e. blue helmets for visitors
• Provide a briefing, including an explanation of hazards, safety measures in place and emergency procedures, prior to allowing visitors on site.

An Events Host Website User Guide explains the process of uploading events to the website. Once activated, events will be visible on an interactive map.

Each visit will be unique to the location on offer, whether that is a construction site, office or training facility.  The core inclusions for any event should be:

• PPE (follow the Safety Helmet Colours Standard where possible)
• Information on what happens at that location
• Talks from employees across a few different job roles, including how they got into the industry
• Opportunities for guests to ask questions
• Follow up information on how to get into the industry, such as through CIOB Aspire.

The event is also open to companies of all sizes, with SMEs encouraged to offer their sites for visits to show the real face of our industry to potential recruits. 

More information, including how to register, and the support available to organise and run the events, can be found on the Open Doors website. Educational visitors can currently pre-register their interest in visits by emailing the site hosts directly. Bookings for all visitors open on January 12 2026.