UKREiiF 2025: Skills in Demand Across Real Estate and Construction

You may have already seen our recent recap of the key takeaways from UKREiiF 2025. While planning, projects, and partnerships were standout themes of the forum, people emerged as a fourth, equally crucial pillar. The demand for skilled talent continues to shape the real estate and construction sectors, and the conversations we had at the event underscored that without the right people, progress in any of the other three areas is limited.

Here, we take a closer look at the core skill areas we identified through our conversations at UKREiiF and what they mean for recruitment in the built environment.

ESG Expertise Across the Built Environment

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are no longer optional - they are embedded in the planning, design, and operation of the built environment. Organisations are actively seeking professionals with ESG knowledge and implementation capabilities across several subfields:

• Land and Planning: Candidates who understand environmental impact assessments (EIAs), community engagement, and sustainable land use strategies are increasingly sought after.
• Retrofitting: With net-zero commitments now high on the agenda, specialists who can lead decarbonisation efforts through energy-efficient upgrades to existing stock are in demand.
• Building Management: ESG-conscious operational management is growing in importance, especially in commercial and multi-occupancy residential buildings. Facilities managers with experience in green building certifications (e.g., BREEAM, LEED) and smart building systems are increasingly valuable.

We’re seeing a strong appetite among employers for candidates who combine technical understanding with the ability to deliver ESG objectives in practical, measurable ways. These skills are not only niche, they’re becoming essential.

Infrastructure Experience as a Competitive Advantage

Infrastructure emerged as a differentiator in both project delivery and tender success. While it may be simplistic to say infrastructure expertise alone secured contracts, many of the organisations we spoke to acknowledge its increasing importance in integrated development proposals.

Professionals with specific experience in transport planning, utilities integration, large-scale project phasing, and stakeholder navigation (particularly in complex urban environments) are in high demand. The growing crossover between real estate development and public infrastructure means infrastructure-minded candidates are now opening doors that didn’t exist even a year ago.

For employers, identifying and hiring candidates who understand how to interface with infrastructure partners can add immediate value to project teams.

Experience with Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

Joint ventures between public and private stakeholders continue to be a central strategy in delivering large-scale regeneration, infrastructure, and mixed-use projects. Candidates who bring a working knowledge of public procurement processes, funding mechanisms, and stakeholder management across sectors are proving invaluable.

Furthermore, experience across asset class transitions - for instance, from commercial to residential or office to mixed-use - is increasingly attractive. We’re seeing strong demand for professionals who can apply insights from one sector to another, particularly where placemaking, ESG, and regeneration goals intersect.

Residential Management Skills - Spotlight on BTR

The rapid growth of the Build-to-Rent (BTR) sector has spurred demand for residential management professionals with an operational and customer-first mindset. Key transferable skills include:

• Operational excellence and asset performance tracking
• Resident engagement and customer service strategy (with parallels to those skills seen in the hospitality sector)
• Onsite team leadership and compliance knowledge

Professionals transitioning from traditional PRS, student housing, or hospitality spaces are proving successful, especially where they can demonstrate an understanding of tenant lifecycle management, community building, and modern amenity-led service models.

DE&I Remains Mission Critical

Despite meaningful progress in representation at entry and mid-level roles, the upper echelons of leadership within the built environment remain largely homogeneous - particularly with respect to race, class, and socioeconomic background.

Speakers at UKREiiF 2025 reflected on how subtle forms of exclusion persist - from limited mentorship and sponsorship pathways to rigid career structures and unclear promotion processes.

What’s clear is that Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is not a ‘nice to have’ - it’s increasingly recognised as a key driver of innovation and performance. Employers who prioritise clear progression routes, inclusive hiring practices, and authentic storytelling around lived experiences are building stronger Employer Value Propositions (EVPs).

At Cobalt, we are continuing to work with clients to embed DE&I into their recruitment strategy - not just as a compliance measure, but as a strategic imperative.

Let’s Talk People Strategy

If you’d like to explore how these themes are shaping the talent landscape — or discuss recruitment support in your specialist area — reach out to our UKREiiF attendees below:

Maria Sinclair – Real Estate and Capital Markets (UK-wide)

Sam Peers – Real Estate and Capital Markets (Regional UK)

Will Jacques – Real Estate and Capital Markets (London and South East)

Kate Peers-McQueen - Construction, Residential Development and Town Planning

Sarah Shaw – Residential Development and Town Planning (Regional UK)

Eden Kendall – Residential Management

Steve Maynard – Real Estate Accounting & Finance