Construction Careers Week is urging merchants to inspire young people to join the industry.

The event comprises of three different weeks in three different cities, each with a slightly different focus, attended by local students.

The aim is to help to reduce the skills shortage in the construction industry, and give young people a better understanding of their built environment and the opportunities it offers.

Manchester Construction Careers Week will start on 24 September, focusing on diversity and gender. This includes The Inspire Summit at the Bridgewater Hall on 25 September, which has Barbara Res – the first woman to oversee the construction of a major skyscraper, Trump Tower - as its headline speaker.

In Birmingham, the careers week will start on 8 October, focusing on the future of construction and tech, and London Construction Careers Week will take place from 15 October, focusing on the past, present and future of the industry.

The weeks are organised by Built Environment Skills in Schools, which is encouraging businesses to take part, for example by demonstrating how tech such as virtual reality is used in the industry, site tours, or digital broadcasts.

Previous years have seen digital broadcasts from railways lines and even from the top of a crane.

Kathryn Lennon-Johnson, founder of BESS, said: “Meeting and engaging with students, whether on site or through the use of technology, is a vital step in attracting more young people into the sector, as well as making it more diverse and inclusive.

“With many schools and colleges across all three regions taking part this year, it’s important we have as many different businesses on board.”