Matt Sharp, Partner and Chief Digital Officer at RLB in the UK, considers the importance of professionalism and professional standards in modern construction.
As digital tools become integral to construction processes, ensuring technology is used responsibly, ethically, and effectively remains a top priority. In this article, I’ll examine professionalism and professional standards and explore their significance and ongoing importance for the industry’s future.
The evolution of tech in construction
Construction has traditionally been a hands-on industry, emphasising physical craftsmanship and manual labour. More recently, digital tools have started to play a much more prominent role, with the rise of digital twins, AI-powered design software, and machine learning algorithms changing how projects are envisioned and executed.
Digital transformation is accelerating as more companies realise the fantastic potential offered by AI and data driven decision making. AI’s potential to disrupt entire sectors on a phenomenal scale means that it has become essential for businesses to adapt quickly to stay competitive. This all results in an industry where the demand for skilled professionals who can understand and navigate digital tools is more significant than ever.
Yet integrating these technologies also brings new challenges — one of the most critical being the need for professionalism and clear ethical standards. As new tools are adopted, having well trained, respected professionals who can use these tools effectively and responsibly becomes essential.
A framework for digital transformation
With the sector's digital transformation underway, it’s vital to ensure that integrating new technologies does not compromise ethical standards. For example, AI can automate tasks and enhance decision making, but it raises some important ethical questions. How can companies ensure that AI decisions align with their values? What role should human oversight play? This is where professional standards can help to provide general guidance around the ethical use of emerging technologies within construction.
In addition to working to represent BCS on the Construction Industry Council, RLB has also established an AI Council as part of its digital strategy. This council comprises professionals from various disciplines, including legal, compliance, business and IT, and it plays a vital role in ensuring that AI is used ethically. This interdisciplinary approach is essential in construction, where decisions often impact people’s lives, communities, and the built environment.
Just because AI is capable of doing something doesn’t mean it should. Professional standards in construction must evolve to ensure that AI-made decisions align with ethical principles. Professionalism and ethics must be incorporated into every aspect of the industry, from the use of AI to the way data is handled and analysed.
Upskilling the workforce
One of the most significant barriers to embracing new technologies in construction is the skills gap. Many workers in the industry need more digital expertise to effectively use AI, data analytics, and other advanced tools. As the industry increasingly integrates digital technologies, upskilling is critical to maintaining professionalism.
Businesses must take the opportunity to invest in their people to prepare for the digital future. This can be done through training programs, partnerships with educational organisations, and initiatives like the apprenticeship levy, which can be used to fund upskilling efforts. For example, RLB collaborates with Multiverse, a digital skills provider offering AI, data analysis, and digital transformation courses. This helps employees develop the necessary skills and prepares the company for future challenges.
Construction companies should focus on the technical and transformational aspects of digital skills to bridge the skills gap. It’s not just about teaching employees to code or analyse data — it’s also about developing their ability to understand how these skills can be applied within the business context. Professionals must think critically about how digital tools can drive business improvements and help companies succeed. This broader approach to digital skills will ensure that the workforce is equipped with the technical expertise and the strategic mindset necessary to navigate the complexities of modern construction.
Professionalism, certification and standards
There is a clear pathway to recognition in many professions — whether it’s through certifications, degrees, or other formalised processes. In the construction industry, professionals often gain respect through accreditation from institutions like the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) or the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
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These certifications demonstrate a certain level of expertise and commitment to professional standards. The prevalence of digital technology in construction means a growing need for a similar professional framework for IT and digital professionals in the industry. Such a system could involve developing new certifications and standards that focus on integrating digital and physical environments in construction.
Just as civil engineers must be registered and accredited, IT professionals working on construction projects would have recognised credentials demonstrating their digital proficiency in the built environment. This could help foster tremendous respect for their role in shaping the industry's future and ensure their expertise is held in the same regard as traditional construction professionals. One solution is to ensure that digital construction professionals are certified as Chartered IT Professionals (CITP). Becoming chartered enables an IT professional to demonstrate expert IT competence, professionalism, technical knowledge, and a significant commitment to the industry. RLB is currently encouraging all of its IT leaders to attain CITP status.
Physical and digital convergence
Digital and physical experiences are seamlessly blended across retail, education and entertainment sectors. As an example, in education, hybrid learning environments are now commonplace, with lectures being broadcast live or recorded, which requires the integration of both physical and digital infrastructures. The built environment is increasingly becoming a hybrid of physical and digital working. Integrated digital technologies enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven design. Still, they also require professionals who can bridge the gap between construction's digital and physical aspects.
The professionalism of digital experts in construction becomes crucial in ensuring that these digital tools are applied in a way that enhances the built environment rather than creating new risks or inefficiencies. Professionals need to not only understand the technology but also be able to communicate its value to all stakeholders, including those more adept in traditional building methods. This will ensure that digital tools can enhance construction projects' quality, safety and efficiency. At the same time, work is carried out ethically and in line with the appropriate standards and frameworks.
Professionalism in the construction industry is not just about adhering to technical standards; it’s about ensuring that the people driving digital transformation are respected as experts, their skills are continually developed, and their work is aligned with the industry’s broader values. Professionalism will be the key to ensuring that the construction industry remains forward thinking, responsible, and successful.
