Dowds Group launches landmark staff package in bold response to construction talent crisis

Louise McClelland, CEO of Dowds Group, with members of the team

A major Ballymena employer has unveiled what it describes as a best-in-class employee benefits package in a move aimed at tackling the construction industry’s growing talent crisis and setting a new standard for employers across the UK.

Dowds Group, the Ballymena-headquartered construction and engineering specialist, today announced a landmark rewards and benefits package designed to support its 230-strong workforce through every stage of life and career — from apprentices taking their first steps into the industry to long-serving staff approaching retirement.

The move comes at a pivotal time for both the local economy and the wider UK construction sector, with labour shortages intensifying and employers under mounting pressure to attract and retain skilled workers.

A major investment in people

In a significant show of confidence in its workforce, Dowds Group said the new Employee Value Proposition has been developed following extensive consultation with staff and stakeholders.

The package combines financial support with broader wellbeing and work-life benefits, reflecting what the company says are the real-life pressures facing employees both inside and outside the workplace.

Headline measures include 41 days of annual leave as a basic entitlement, enhanced parental and carers’ leave, private healthcare, six months of enhanced sick pay, and round-the-clock access to support services.

The package has been benchmarked against leading Tier 1 and global organisations, drawing on industry-wide data and professional services insight to create what the firm believes is a holistic, whole-of-life support system.

For many readers across Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim area, the announcement signals another major investment in local jobs and long-term economic resilience.

Responding to an industry under pressure

The announcement lands against the backdrop of a well-documented recruitment challenge facing the construction sector.

Across the UK, unemployment has risen to its highest level in almost five years, while the construction industry is forecast to require 239,000 additional workers by 2029 to meet demand.

Dowds Group says its response is deliberately two-pronged.

Alongside the new benefits package, the company continues to expand Dowds Academy, its training and development programme offering apprenticeships, placements and continuous professional development opportunities.

The strategy is designed not only to retain experienced staff but to encourage new entrants — including those without a traditional construction background — to consider a career in engineering and the built environment.

That local relevance is especially significant in Ballymena, where major employers and investment-led businesses continue to play a key role in supporting economic confidence.

Building on Ballymena growth

The workforce investment forms a central part of the company’s broader five-year strategy and follows a recent £1.6 million investment in its Group Professional Services hub in Ballymena.

Dowds Group delivers design-led engineering solutions across complex, mission-critical environments including education and healthcare, with major projects including Queen Elizabeth Hospital in London and Ulster University in Belfast.

With a forecast turnover of £95 million in FY26, the company has already earned recognition as a leading employer, holding Great Place to Work certification, Investors in People accreditation, and Gold Standard recognition among Ireland’s Best Managed Companies.

CEO: “The talent pipeline is fundamentally broken”

Louise McClelland, CEO of Dowds Group

Louise McClelland, CEO of Dowds Group, said the company wanted to confront long-standing challenges in the sector head-on.

“For the last 25 years, employment in the construction industry has been on the decline, yet we’ve seen little meaningful change to address that. 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.

“But we want to change that. We’re confident that our total reward package is truly best-in-class, with a combination of hard and ‘soft’ benefits that’s difficult to match.

“Our hope is that this package, along with the Dowds Academy training scheme, will encourage people who might not otherwise have considered a career here to enter the industry.

“It’s also about recognising our people. The people who show up and do good work every day are the heart of our business.”

As Ballymena continues to position itself as a hub for engineering excellence and high-value employment, the announcement is likely to be seen as a significant vote of confidence in both local talent and the future of the sector.

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At a glance

• Dowds Group has launched a major new employee benefits and rewards package

• The Ballymena-based firm employs around 230 staff

• Benefits include 41 days annual leave, private healthcare and enhanced sick pay

• Staff will receive up to six months enhanced sick pay

• The package also includes enhanced parental leave and carers’ leave

• The initiative is part of the company’s wider five-year growth strategy

• It comes alongside the Dowds Academy training and development programme

• The firm expects a £95 million turnover in FY26

• The move is aimed at addressing the construction sector’s talent shortage

• Dowds recently invested £1.6 million in its Ballymena professional services hub