Project Summary

Challenge

Construction has long faced challenges in improving productivity, with performance growth lagging behind many other sectors of the economy. Despite significant investment in projects, technologies and improvement initiatives, the industry continues to struggle with embedding productivity improvement skills consistently across site teams, supervisors and first-line managers.

One of the key barriers is the industry's highly dispersed workforce. Construction professionals work across thousands of sites, organisations and supply chains, making it difficult to deliver training at scale using traditional classroom-based approaches. In addition, the workforce represents a wide range of nationalities, learning preferences and levels of experience, meaning that conventional training methods do not always engage all learners effectively.

To improve productivity at an industry-wide level, there is a need for more accessible, flexible and inclusive approaches that help people not only acquire new skills but also apply them effectively in their day-to-day roles.

Solution

Morrisroe Group partnered with BBI Services to develop an innovative active learning programme including three pathways, designed to make productivity improvement skills more accessible across the construction workforce. The project combined digital learning, coaching and workplace application to support operatives, supervisors and first-line managers in developing practical skills that improve performance on site.

The programme used an on-demand digital learning platform supported by structured coaching, allowing participants to access learning materials anytime, anywhere and on multiple devices. Rather than relying solely on traditional training methods, the platform provided a range of learning formats to suit different learning styles and improve engagement across a diverse workforce.

Learning content focused on key productivity improvement principles, including:

• Understanding customer value and reducing waste

• Performance measurement and data capture

• Process mapping and standardisation

• Continuous improvement techniques

• Pull planning and workflow management

• Leadership and team performance

• Skills and competency development

• Quality improvement and right-first-time delivery.

A key feature of the programme was the integration of coaching support alongside digital learning. Participants could access one-to-one and group coaching sessions designed to help embed learning, apply new skills in real work environments and support behavioural change.

The learning resources were developed and tested with pilot groups from major construction organisations, ensuring content was relevant, practical and applicable across a range of construction settings. The approach also sought to improve inclusion by providing learning materials in different formats and exploring translation and accessibility options to support a broader range of learners.

By combining digital learning with coaching and workplace application, the project aimed to build a stronger culture of continuous improvement across the sector while creating a scalable model for future productivity training.

Micro-sized employers (0-10 employees) can access the training free of charge.

Everyone else can access individual pathways for £60 per person, or a total of £180 per person for the full programme.

Outcomes

Resources

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