July and August are known for being slow months. In the infrastructure, energy, and construction sectors, however, they are also the months when a decision is made regarding the technical capacity the team will have when the last quarter of the year begins, the most demanding in terms of project closure, audits, and competitive bidding.
The question isn't whether you should get an education. It's a matter of when and what.
Why are July and August a strategic time for training?
The second semester concentrates the heaviest workload on the technical departments. Projects entering their final phase, certification processes, regulatory reviews, and new bids that require up-to-date equipment. Reaching September without having addressed the skills gaps that have persisted since the first half of the year comes at a real cost: delays, errors, and reliance on scarce external expertise.
Summer is the time of year when operational pressure is lowest for many technical professionals. Using it for strategic training isn't a compromise—it's a competitive advantage.
How can you identify skill gaps within the team?
The starting point is to understand where the team stands in relation to what the market will demand in the coming months. That involves cross-referencing three sources: the project's needs (which critical competencies are not covered internally), industry trends (What the competition is prioritizing in terms of training) and the team's own history (which training has been completed and which is still pending).
The Educa PHAROS 2025 Barometer, Based on an analysis of more than 600,000 degree programs in 120 countries, it provides an accurate snapshot of where educational priorities are headed in engineering, construction, energy, and infrastructure. A useful resource for comparing internal decisions with current trends in the sector.
The Challenges the Industry Will Face After the Summer
Digital transformation remains the central focus. Data analysis applied to decision-making, the integration of digital tools into technical workflows, and updates to sustainability regulations These are the three factors that are putting the most pressure on teams. Added to that are the increasingly stringent certification requirements: Customers, bidders, and regulatory agencies are increasingly requesting formal certifications that demonstrate up-to-date technical skills.
Five Skills to Focus on Before September
According to data from the Educa PHAROS 2025 Barometer, these are the areas with the highest growth in training demand in the infrastructure, energy, and engineering sectors:
| Competition | Trend (PHAROS 2025 Barometer) | Why It's a Priority Now | Recommended Training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Analysis and Decision-Making Tools (Power BI, Excel, Python) | ↑ High demandHighest growth recorded in the 2025 Barometer | Data-driven decision-making has become standard practice in infrastructure projects. Teams that do not have a firm grasp of it rely on third parties to interpret the information they generate. | View training → |
| Artificial Intelligence Applied to Technical Environments | ↑ High demandIt is gaining traction as a productivity strategy among companies in the sector | AI is already integrated into design, monitoring, and maintenance workflows. Understanding it is not a competitive advantage—it is an increasingly essential operational requirement. | View training → |
| Sustainability, the Environment, and the SDGs in Infrastructure Projects | ↑ High demandA top priority, especially for infrastructure companies | ESG criteria and the Sustainable Development Goals influence tenders, financing, and corporate reputation. The second half of the year typically sees a concentration of sustainability audits and reporting. | View training → |
| BIM and Construction and Engineering Project Management | → ConsolidatedIt remains among the top-ranked companies in the construction and engineering sector | BIM remains a required standard for projects of a certain scale. Formal certification strengthens the team's position in bidding processes and when collaborating with large construction companies. | View training → |
| Photovoltaic Solar Energy and High Voltage | ↑ High demandLeading the Way in Training Demand in the Energy Sector | The energy transition continues to generate projects at a rapid pace. Teams without up-to-date training in these technologies are finding it difficult to secure the most significant projects on the market. | View training → |
Environmental Certification of Buildings
The Sustainability criteria are increasingly influencing tenders, financing, and corporate reputation of companies in the sector. Understanding environmental certification systems (LEED, BREEAM, CASBEE) and their technical and documentation requirements is no longer an optional specialization: it is a skill that clients and developers are beginning to demand. The second half of the year typically involves a concentration of sustainability audits and reporting, making this summer the ideal time to complete this course.
Recommended training courses at Educa PHAROS: Environmental Certification of Buildings
Building Systems
The Facility design—from home automation to energy harvesting systems, telecommunications, and fire protection—is evolving at a pace that renders knowledge acquired five years ago obsolete. For teams working on construction projects who need to upgrade their capabilities in designing, rendering, and budgeting for building systems, this is a gap that direct impact on delivery quality.
Recommended training courses at Educa PHAROS: Building Systems
Risk Management in Infrastructure Projects
The Contract management and risk identification in complex projects These are the skills that distinguish teams that can handle unforeseen events from those that are overwhelmed by them. In the water and infrastructure sectors in general, where projects are long-term and contracts are demanding, mastering risk assessment and mitigation strategies is a a key factor in the project's viability.
Recommended training courses at Educa PHAROS: Masterclass: Risk Management in Water Infrastructure Projects
BIM Applied to Estimates and Certifications
BIM remains at the top of the training rankings in construction and engineering, according to the Educa PHAROS 2025 Barometer. Formal certification in its application to project financial management, using tools such as Presto and the integration of IFC models, strengthens the team's position in bidding processes and in our relationships with major construction companies that already require it as a standard.
Recommended training courses at Educa PHAROS: BIM. Estimates and Certifications
Diagnosis in Building Rehabilitation
Renovation is one of the busiest segments of the industry, driven by European funding and energy efficiency goals. Knowing how to assess the condition of a building by applying the UNE standard and the Technical Building Code, and preparing accurate diagnostic reports, is a skill that High demand and a shortage of formally trained professionals.
Recommended training courses at Educa PHAROS: Diagnosis in Building Rehabilitation
Bibliographic References
- Educa PHAROS 2025 Barometer. Trends in corporate training in engineering, construction, energy, and infrastructure. Available at: educapharos.com/barometer/
