Competence development in timber construction for smaller construction companies

With increased need of addressing sustainability in construction, the interest in timber construction is rapidly increasing. Existing research and educational initiatives overlook the needs of construction workers and those involved in executing construction projects. The aim of this project is to address this competence deficiency.

Motivation for the study

Upcoming new wood-based materials and technologies make it difficult for the conservative construction industry to keep up. Research has indicated that addressing the competence deficiency is crucial for the progress of the timber construction industry in Sweden and even more so in northern Sweden, with numerous ongoing timber-construction projects. Some studies highlight that execution failures contribute to up to 25% of collapses in large timber structures, underscoring the urgent need for competence development in this domain.

Existing research and educational initiatives primarily target structural engineers, architects, and management staff, overlooking the needs of construction workers and those involved in executing construction projects. This group is the main target of this project, aiming to identify the specific needs and challenges of small entrepreneurial construction companies (SECCs) and create a structured guide (roadmap) for their competence development in the short and long term.

Benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises

• Understanding and mapping competence requirements of SECCs.
• Creating competence development roadmap supporting lifelong learning for SECCs.
• Increase of competitiveness of these companies.
• Quality improvement of future construction projects in timber.
• Contribution to the more sustainable construction industry in Sweden.
  

The goal of the project

The goal of this project is to identify knowledge, and competence needs of SECCs in relation to timber construction practices in northern regions of Sweden and to create a roadmap to support these companies in their competence development enterprise. If possible, the project aims to initiate digital education initiatives to support the most urgent needs.