Forecasts indicate that the construction industry will need to recruit over 230,000 extra workers in the next five years to meet projected growth. Addressing a serious and widening skills gap is now a top priority for everyone, from the biggest developers to the smallest contractors, as well as the policymakers working to support and steer the industry. Lee Mills, Service Director at Citation, writes the following article…
In a significant move, the chancellor announced a £600m investment in skills training for the construction and engineering sector – part of the government’s plans to build 1.5 million new homes. The investment is intended to facilitate the training of 60,000 new construction workers and has been warmly welcomed by the industry. The critical consideration though, is will small and medium-sized construction businesses be ready to employ these newly qualified individuals?
Competing pressures
The skills gap is just one of many challenges facing the construction sector. The increased financial pressure small and medium sized construction firms are feeling from recent increases to National Insurance contributions and National Minimum Wage will likely compound the skills shortage issue.
These changes have the potential to undercut the impact of the new investment. Training new engineers, bricklayers and electricians will be ineffective if small businesses can’t afford to employ them, and the £2,000 per apprentice incentive the government is offering only begins to cover the expenses they’d be incurring. The investments announced by the government are certainly a good start, but more work needs to be done with the industry to understand the impact on the ground if the spend is to make the biggest impact.
Smarter health and safety
Where the funding does have the power to make a difference is in improving health and safety competence across the industry. New provisions in the Building Safety Act upgrade standards for health and safety in most construction sectors, as well as requiring the appointment of Accountable Persons who are liable for the health and safety on a project and of eventual occupants in high-rise residential buildings. In this context, bolstering health and safety training for new recruits would be an area where this investment could make a real difference, contributing to a safer built environment, a healthier construction industry and improved safety for end users.
Where possible, training needs to start at entry level so that health and safety considerations are second nature for workers.
Next steps for skills
Construction businesses are under significant pressure, and while the government’s new investment is a positive step forward, key questions remain – particularly around how small firms will afford to employ new workers, however well trained they may be. Resolving this will be the critical next step if the sector is to meet its ambitious targets and build the workforce of the future.
