May 2010

In a survey last year, the CIOB reported that there are still too few skilled workers in the UK construction industry.

The survey involved over 1,000 UK construction professionals, of which 77% believe there is a skills shortage in construction. Of these, 78% felt that the loss of skills will hinder the industry’s recovery when the economy improves.

If the forecasted cuts in public services results in the threat of fewer new schools and colleges being built, one thing remains evident. That the industry must do more, now, to attract young people into it. People who will, quite literally, be building the schools of the future.

The challenge, therefore, is for construction companies to promote the benefits of working in construction earlier on in a person’s education. So that the essential and varied crafts it requires can be considered as a career of choice, rather than something young people simply drift into. Done effectively, and the industry will have a very healthy talent pool when the economy returns.

At a recent presentation hosted by Camden Jobtrain for its annual awards, Howard Feasey, Head of 14-19 Strategy at the London borough of Camden said: ‘Not everyone is academic, yet there is a great pressure on people to achieve well in GCSEs. Sadly, some young people can feel inadequate, or that they are unable to get a good job, before they even get into the classroom.

‘This simply isn’t the case,’ he says. ‘Businesses need skilled people. The construction industry, for example, needs joiners, bricklayers, plumbers, metal workers and many other related crafts, all of which can lead to very rewarding careers.’

Yet many of the young people who join such programmes as offered by Camden Jobtrain, do so reactively, not necessarily because it has been a planned decision.

‘We want young people to aspire to work in construction,’ says Eleanor Radville, BAM’s Education Coordinator who has been working with Camden Jobtrain in mentoring and placing students, as well as promoting the industry within primary and secondary schools. ‘It’s a fantastic industry and there is a lot of talent out there, whether it’s the next great architect, or an award winning joiner. Our job is to open their eyes to the potential a career in construction can offer, as well as realise their own potential.’

One way construction companies are encouraging young people, is to engage them in their projects through site visits, school presentations, and collaborative community activities.

And they are also involving pupils in the design and fit-out of the new schools they are building.  When bidding for Somerset BSF, the winning contractor engaged year 7-8 students to ‘test-drive’ furniture and invited them to create their ideal working classroom. This not only helps design and construction teams understand what the end-user actually wants, but helps to promote the values and reputation of today’s construction industry to the very people it wants to encourage.

ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, is also calling for more UK contractors to help stimulate a ‘spirit of apprenticeships’.

As part of its annual employer recruitment drive to encourage more businesses to invest in young people, ConstructionSkills is looking to the biggest contractors to use their influence to facilitate apprenticeships, work placements, and employment, to businesses of all sizes.

The UK Contractors Group (UKCG) supports this, and is encouraging construction firms to use their influence in the supply chain, promoting the importance of working together to deliver the next generation of skilled craftspeople. The UKCG has recently established an apprenticeship task force to look at ways its members can work collectively with their subcontractors to promote new entrant training.

Indeed, ConstructionSkills believes that the failure to invest in trainees now, will mean severe skills shortages in the future.

However, many large contractors are already actively investing in smaller firms that share their corporate values, working cultures and commitment to developing talent.

BAM is a case in point. Its approach in fostering relationships between Camden Jobtrain’s students and its subcontractors led to the company receiving the organisations ‘Employer of the Year’ Award at this year’s annual presentation event.

‘We have been proactively working with Jobtrain’s learners to help them get the insight, experience, and encouragement they need to start a career in this industry,’ says Eleanor, pictured receiving the award.

BAM has also been successful in facilitating trainee positions for construction learners, and helping with interview skills and techniques. Despite a challenging background, Bradley Roberts’ determination and enthusiasm for construction led to success when BAM introduced to him to subcontractor Lee Warren Fabrication and Design, where he now works as a full time employed trainee.

Bradley himself was also celebrating at the awards, having won Camden Jobtrain’s Margaret Lacey Award, which recognises exceptional achievement, often against the odds.

‘Bradley is a fantastic example of how the construction industry can help young learners,’ says Eleanor. ‘We’re thrilled to have won Employer of the Year, but for us the reward really is in seeing young people like Bradley flourish, and for him to be recognised in this way. He has a good future ahead of him.’

There are thousands of people like Bradley that the construction industry needs. And it needs to get to them earlier, and now. For there is an irony that looms should there not be enough skilled craftspeople to deliver our new schools when the economy returns!