MD warns of looming skills shortage
Posted on 05/02/2015
A number of construction industry leaders have issued a warning about labour shortages in their sector, including the Managing Director of an aluminium manufacturer.
Jerry Webb, Managing Director of CDW Systems, Tim Stringer of Integral Build and Gemma Day of Dowlas have come on record following the uplift in the construction sector and the news that many more jobs in the industry are expected to be created.
CDW Systems have been in business for over 21 years as specialist aluminium manufacturers and the business has experienced particularly strong growth in the last few years.
But Jerry says that recruiting for new staff was more difficult than it should be, after he added a second shift at the company following record sales in 2014.
Jerry says that he has also noticed that many young people don’t attach prestige to forging a long-term career in the construction and glazing industry; and that with many more jobs being created, a skills crisis could be looming.
He comments: “You can’t generalise as many young people do want to work in glazing and construction but not enough in my opinion; and it was more difficult than it should have been for us to recruit staff.
“We’re growing year on year and there are always positions, both skilled and unskilled, but there is a question mark around how much prestige is attached to our industry and whether enough is done to communicate the positives of working in construction to young people.”
The Director of Integral Build – who are a national construction and maintenance firm -Tim Stringer, has also come on record about skills shortages in the industry.
He comments: “Integral Build have certainly found sourcing key trades, specifically traditional ones such as plastering and bricklaying, more difficult over the last year or so.
“This is still proving to be an issue going into 2015 and we can’t see it getting any better, especially as the industry gets busier. It does seems to me that the average age of the tradesmen is gradually getting older and this is a major concern for the future. Is it that young people are not excited about these trades?
“I would guess this is the case and the industry as a whole needs to look at itself very carefully to work out the best way to encourage school children and young adults - both male and female - that this is a great industry to be a part of.”
Gemma Day who is Director of Dowlas, the enabling developer for the Junction 21 Enterprise Area that is one of the biggest developments outside of London, comments: “We are experiencing lots of enquiries at our site and together with our partners have already finished some projects. As things continue to pick up I am starting to see a strain on skills which is a concern.
“What can we do? There is no magic bullet but engaging students at a younger age is one way.”
