With the construction and engineering sectors facing a need to recruit 25,000 additional workers per year by 2028[1], the lift industry is calling for action to revolutionise training pathways and create opportunities to attract new talent.
Amid rising safety and compliance demands, sector-wide skills shortages are stalling both new build and retrofit projects, causing concern around delivering on targets and ensuring occupant safety. According to research, skills deficiencies are most pronounced in fire safety (33.5%), Building Safety Act (BSA) compliance (32%), product assurance and traceability (28%), and sustainability (22%).
The research, which was commissioned by PEW Electrical, a specialist supplier to the lift and vertical transport industry, reveals that over half (55%) of professionals attribute shortages to insufficient apprenticeships and career opportunities, while 53% point to fractured training as the primary upskilling barrier.
Negative industry perceptions exacerbate the issue, with 54% seeing this as a key retention obstacle and 41% linking poor perceptions to recruitment difficulties.
The gaps, driven by fragmented training provision and limited career pathways, threaten regulatory adherence under the BSA, with one in five professionals (20%) citing training and competency as the biggest challenge, and 23% highlighting accountability issues in the golden thread of building safety.
Further to this, nearly one in five (18%) respondents think that, currently, lift engineers are poorly prepared to ensure compliance.
However, the shortage of engineers is not specific to the lift industry. It mirrors broader construction trends where workforce numbers have declined sharply and the demand for skilled tradespeople, particularly in specialised areas, remains urgent to meet growing safety and compliance expectations.
Jason Clark, registered engineer and Chairman at PEW Electrical, stated: “The shortage of skills in engineering needs to be addressed quickly and systematically. The UK’s infrastructure and retrofit ambitions require government and businesses to create pathways, embrace young talent, and shift perceptions to showcase the diverse opportunities that our fantastic industry has to offer. “
While the sector faces significant challenges when it comes to skills and meeting evolving regulations, many professionals feel that progress has been made.
58% of respondents said that their entire supply chain has embedded new processes to support competent lift design and installation, meanwhile 57% said that they are confident that lift design standards (such as BS EN 81 series) align with new building safety expectations.
Further to this, 26% of respondents said that they now employ a vertical movement consultant for more complex projects to ensure compliance and performance of the system.
“The industry cares about ensuring best practice, that’s for certain,” Continued Clark. “But we need to both upskill current teams and create more opportunities for young tradespeople and engineers.”
“Part of addressing this is promoting how rewarding a career in engineering can be, which means it’s not just down to the government, it’s down to us. And this is something I’m, personally, very passionate about.”
“Alongside my work with City & Guilds and Skills England, here at PEW Electrical, we’re preparing a range of tools to support engineers and specifiers in ensuring the highest standards of system design and compliance, which we look forward to sharing with the market throughout 2026.
“In the meantime, we encourage all and any contractors, lift companies, and specifiers to get in touch with our in-house engineers for technical guidance or advice on ensuring compliance.”
PEW Electrical and broader industry stakeholders are calling for unified efforts to enhance training frameworks, improve industry perception, and develop structured career pathways to secure the future of lift engineering and safeguard building safety.
