PlanRadar research reveals technology investment influences construction staff retention

by AI & Deep LearningConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry CommentResearch

PlanRadar research identifies technology as a factor in staff retention

Research from PlanRadar indicates that over half of construction professionals are more likely to remain with their current organisation if it increases investment in AI and technology.

One in four respondents reported they would be significantly more likely to stay with an employer that prioritises digital tools.

The study found that nearly half of participants have no current plans to invest in digital tools with AI capabilities despite the potential impact on talent retention.

Attracting and retaining experienced project management talent is currently a critical priority for the construction industry.

UK professionals prioritise data security and accuracy

Data from the UK market shows that 57% of professionals cite accuracy and trust as their primary concern when using AI tools for project management.

Data privacy and security represent a top-tier concern for 29% of UK respondents.

Fear of job displacement ranks last among global concerns and was cited by only 6% of participants.

Nearly half of the respondents spend more than 11 hours per week on tasks they believe AI could streamline.

Among those already using AI-integrated tools, two-thirds report saving at least two hours per week on each project.

Rob Norton, UK Director at PlanRadar, commented: “We’ve reached a point in UK construction where a pay rise alone just isn’t enough to keep hold of your best people.

“Project managers are exhausted by administrative tasks that effectively wipe out a full day of their week.

“They don’t want AI to do their jobs for them; they want it to clear the paperwork off their desks so they can focus on high-value project delivery.

“If firms keep ignoring that, they’re going to lose their most experienced leaders to the competitors who are actually willing to modernise these outdated manual processes.”

Growth in project management demand shapes technology adoption

Ibrahim Imam, Co-Founder and CEO of PlanRadar, said: “Construction professionals are spending more than a full working day every week on tasks that AI is already proving it can dramatically reduce.

“This is an unnecessary drain on some of the most experienced people in the industry.

“Our research shows that professionals are not fearful of AI, quite the opposite, more than half say investment in AI tools would make them more likely to stay with their employer.

“In a market where experienced project management talent is increasingly difficult to attract and retain, organisations that fail to invest in the tools their people need are taking a risk they may not fully appreciate.”

The Project Management Institute (PMI) estimates the construction industry will require nearly 2.5 million additional project professionals by 2035.

Sander van de Rijdt, Co-Founder and CEO of PlanRadar, added: “Construction professionals are not resistant to AI, they are asking for something very reasonable: tools they can trust, with outputs they can rely on and confidence that their project data stays protected.

“At PlanRadar we believe that trust in AI cannot be an afterthought.

“Construction professionals manage sensitive project data every day, so any AI working with that information must meet the highest standards for protection, compliance and user control.

“That expectation is shaping how we are developing AI, with these principles built in from the outset.”

The Deloitte 2026 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook notes that construction wages have risen 4.2% year-on-year as firms compete for talent.

RECOM secures fire and safety role on £428m public framework

by Featured NewsPassiveProjects

Fire and safety work included in Rise framework awards

RECOM Solutions has secured places on five lots within the latest £428m Rise Construction Framework, including fire and safety compliance, project management and work linked to passive fire protection.

The framework will run until March 2030 following a competitive tendering process and will be used to procure services across the north west, North Wales, Yorkshire, Humber and Lincolnshire.

The sectors named include healthcare, social care, education and housing, along with emergency services, local authorities, government departments, museums and arts organisations, charities, third-sector groups and public bodies.

RECOM gained places on the general construction, refurbishment and multi-disciplinary consultancy lots as well as fire and safety compliance and project management.

The company said those lots cover contracts worth up to £6m.

Fire and safety division and wider group activity

The RECOM group undertakes project management consultancy, main contracting and passive fire protection work nationwide across healthcare, education, retail, leisure, commercial and residential, facilities management and defence.

RECOM Fire Solutions delivers works in live environments to limit the spread of fire, smoke and heat in buildings and structures.

Its services include compartmentation and fire door condition surveys, along with installation and remediation of fire stopping and fire doors.

The division also carries out intumescent paint application, overboarding and fire curtain installations.

The business recently opened a base at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham to support projects across the Midlands, the M6 corridor and the south west.

RECOM Director Jason McKnight said: “Rise is one of the more active frameworks in the public sector. Securing multiple lots, including for new disciplines and broader project types, supports our long-term growth strategy in this area by creating opportunities to further expand our client base and our commercial footprint, especially in fire compliance and project management.

“It positions us as a preferred supplier for a wide range of construction projects to play a key role in delivering safe, compliant and high-quality built environment projects, and opens immediate access to call-offs without the need for separate procurement processes.

RECOM Group has its headquarters at Waters Edge Business Park in Salford Quays and already holds places on other frameworks including those with the University of Manchester, NHS Shared Business Services, Fusion21, the North West Construction Hub and the Constellia managed framework for the public sector.