Construction's skills pipeline is the headline story this week as the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) drops its 2026-2030 workforce outlook. The report lands alongside a week of product activity from Milwaukee, a new charity tie-up in the trade supplies space, and a clever piece of site machinery that is worth knowing about if your work involves skip loading.
---
Today's key stories
CITB flags growth on the way, skills gap still the problem The CITB's annual Construction Workforce Outlook covers 2026 to 2030 and confirms what most site managers already suspect: demand is expected to recover over the medium term, but the industry does not currently have the trained workforce to meet it. If you are an apprentice training provider, a site manager planning ahead, or a tradesperson thinking about adding qualifications, this is the report to read. The CITB has the full document on its website. Source: Professional Builder
TradeKart becomes a Strategic Partner of Band of Builders TradeKart, the online trade supplies platform, has formally signed up as a Strategic Partner of Band of Builders, the charity that rallies the construction industry to help tradespeople facing serious illness or family crisis. It is a practical alignment: a platform that serves working builders choosing to back a charity that exists specifically for those builders when things go wrong. Source: Professional Builder
Zippa Skip Loader: remote-controlled skip loading for site safety Professional Builder featured the Zippa Skip Loader this week, demoed by general builder Steven Gaal. The device is a remote-controlled unit designed to load skips safely and efficiently, removing the need to manually climb or reach into a skip to shift waste. Skip loading is one of those site tasks that rarely gets attention until something goes wrong. This product is worth a look if you are managing a busy site. Source: Professional Builder
West Fraser makes the case for OSB over plasterboard Timber panel manufacturer West Fraser has published guidance on using oriented strand board (OSB) as an alternative to plasterboard in certain applications. The environmental argument is straightforward: plasterboard in landfill produces hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas, as it breaks down. OSB is timber-based and does not carry that risk. The piece is worth reading if you specify or install internal linings and are being asked about sustainable alternatives. Source: Professional Builder
Milwaukee continues to build out its M18 range in the UK Milwaukee's UK press pages show continued expansion of the M18 platform, with the impact driver and impact wrench ranges both updated. The M18 FUEL impact drivers span Sub Compact, Right Angle, and full-size heavy-duty models, giving electricians, joiners, and general builders a cordless option matched to the task. The impact wrench range runs from compact 1/2 inch models up to high-torque options for heavy fastening. Both ranges run on the M18 REDLITHIUM battery system, so if you are already on M18, the upgrade cost is battery-only. Source: Milwaukee Tool UK
Makita Workwear range continues to expand Makita's dedicated workwear arm is building out its range for UK trades. The site at makitaukworkwear.com carries branded site clothing across the core categories. Worth a look if you are kitting out a team and want coordinated brand identity alongside your tools. Source: Makita UK Workwear
Stabila LAX 60 G: the green laser level getting attention this week The Stabila LAX 60 G continues to generate coverage. Green laser diodes produce a line that your eye reads roughly four times more easily than red in the same conditions, which makes a practical difference in brighter interiors or near windows. If you are tiling, setting socket heights, or doing partition layout and your current red-beam laser is frustrating you, this is the category to look at. Source: ITS Hub
Makita 18V battery guide doing the rounds A guide to Makita's 18V battery Ah ratings is circulating this week, covering the 2.0Ah, 5.0Ah, and 6.0Ah options and which tool types benefit from each. The short version: 2.0Ah packs are light and suit drivers and detail work; 5.0Ah hits the sweet spot for most site tools; 6.0Ah is the runtime choice for grinders and circular saws used all day. More in our earlier guide. Source: Toolden Blog
---
Watchlist
- CITB Workforce Outlook 2026-2030 is worth downloading in full. The headline growth figures matter less than the breakdown by trade and region, which is where the actionable planning information sits.
- Zippa Skip Loader has minimal UK press coverage so far. If this gets a UK distributor announcement or demo event, it is worth following up.
- West Fraser / OSB could merit a broader piece on sustainable material swaps for UK builders as specifiers and contractors face more frequent sustainability questions from clients.
---