Dowds Group launches employee benefits package to tackle construction talent crisis

Northern Ireland construction and engineering firm Dowds Group has unveiled a landmark employee benefits and rewards package, targeting workforce retention and recruitment in a sector facing acute staffing shortages. The initiative sets a new benchmark for people management in the UK construction industry at a time when labour demand is outpacing supply.

As reported by the News Letter, the package was developed through extensive consultation with staff and stakeholders and benchmarked against leading Tier 1 and global organisations, incorporating data from professional services firms and industry-wide research.

Key elements include a basic annual leave entitlement of 41 days, six months of enhanced sick pay, private healthcare, enhanced parental and carers' leave, and access to a 24/7 employee support service. The support provision directly addresses mental health challenges that the Chartered Institute of Building has identified as a persistent issue across the construction sector.

CEO Louise McClelland said: "The talent pipeline is fundamentally broken. New talent isn't being encouraged to join, and long-serving employees aren't being given enough reason to stay."

McClelland added that the package, alongside the Dowds Academy training scheme, is intended to attract candidates beyond traditional construction backgrounds, targeting resilient, career-focused individuals aligned with the company's long-term vision.

The announcement comes as the Construction Industry Training Board forecasts the sector will require 239,000 additional workers by 2029. UK unemployment is also at its highest level in nearly five years, heightening competition for talent across industries.

The benefits package forms part of Dowds Group's five-year strategy and follows a £1.6 million (€1.9 Mn) investment in a Professional Services hub in Ballymena. The 230-strong firm, with a projected turnover of £95 million (€112 Mn) in FY26, operates across Belfast, London, and Ballymena.

Access the full story on Dowds Group's employee benefits announcement.