Abstracts – Browse Results
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Bahadur, A V (2014) Policy climates and climate policies: analysing the politics of building resilience to climate change, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Sussex.
Dair, C M (2000) An evaluation of the UK regulatory system for the redevelopment of contaminated land, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Sussex.
Drewer, S P (1978) Traditional industry in modern capitalist economies: A study of the construction sector in France and the United Kingdom, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Sussex.
Gann, D M (1993) Innovation in the built environment: The rise of digital buildings, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Sussex.
Jagger, N S B (2017) Skill requirements of the low carbon transition, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Science and Technology Policy Research Unit , University of Sussex.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: climate change; construction worker; forecasting; infrastructure; policy; recession; skills; UK
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/68230/
- Abstract:
If the UK is to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change a low-carbon transition (LCT) must be achieved, whereby our energy infrastructure and economy dramatically reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. The thesis argues that the UK construction sector is key to the success of the LCT and proposes some longer-term skills forecasts to assess whether future supply will meet demand. The thesis uses secondary data to examine features of the UK construction sector which make it essential to achieving the LCT by building and installing the low-carbon infrastructure. Existing construction skills forecasting methodologies are reviewed to determine the required properties for the long-term projection. A novel model where underlying activity, technical change and institutional change co-evolve is developed to frame forecasts of the demand and supply of skills necessary for the LCT and identify if any potential skills shortages could disrupt it. To predict long-term UK growth patterns a new approach - Multi-channel Singular Spectral Analysis - is employed, using educational and demographic forecasts and incorporating business cycles. Technical change is explored using four Government produced 2050 pathways, each proposing a differing bundle of technologies to deliver the LCT. The skills demand for each pathway is then forecast and evaluated. Additional forecasts cover other potential demands and the impact of institutions. In particular, the additional impacts of adaptation measures and the possibility of building more dwellings to meet growing demand are evaluated. The results suggest that given appropriate policies and if the impacts of recessions are minimalised, and the number of new construction workers continues to grow, shortages can be avoided. UK skills policy and training, currently based on an employer-led philosophy, is evaluated to determine if it can provide a timely response to the increased demand for construction skills or whether a more proactive approach is required. The thesis argues that, if a more proactive engagement by the construction skills institutions and policy makers is adopted, the supply of skills could be sufficient to achieve the LCT. However, the higher levels of adaptation measures combined with building sufficient dwelling to meet demand could produce destabilising addition demand on the construction sector leading to problems with the LCT.
McCutcheon, R (1979) Modern construction technology in low-income housing policy: The case of industrialised building, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Sussex.
Trill, J E (2003) The application of occupational performance standards in the construction industry: 'Factors influencing their use', Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Sussex.
Vine, R (2018) The intelligent client: learning to govern through numbers at Heathrow, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex.