Build Magazine April 2016

Build Magazine 8 any in the industry fear a skills shortage may stop UK businesses from taking advantage of the economic recovery. However it seems the industry is react- ing to this, with a £2.4bn increase in by employers upskilling their employees between 2013 and 2015. Further research carried out by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) found 146,200 – approximately 22% – of all job vacancies in the UK are unfilled because of inadequate skills, compared with 91,400 (16%) two years ago. The report suggests the problem of inadequate skills, qualifications or experience in the workforce is hitting some industries harder than others, with the plumbing sector among the hardest hit. Encouraging more firms to take on apprentices is a vital part of tackling this skills gap. Allowing a young person the opportunity to take their first steps on the career ladder and nurturing them from the outset is beneficial not only to that individual but to business- es and the industry, too. There is no denying apprentices are hugely impor- tant for any sector and can have significant benefits for the businesses who hire them. Despite this, the plumbing industry isn’t hiring as many apprentices as it could. In a survey carried out by WaterSafe Installers’ Scheme, 74% of plumbers admitted they didn’t take on apprentices either because they didn’t have the time to invest in another person’s development or they didn’t have the money due to being self-employed. This is not to say that the plumbing industry isn’t interested in hiring more apprentices though. In the same survey, 94% of re- spondents said they believed it was impor- tant for the industry to take on more people at apprentice level. In addition, 95% of respondents thought it was very important to invest in training and qualifications for apprentices, saying it was vital to develop their skills given that they are the future of the industry. These findings are echoed by a recent report commissioned by the Chartered Insti- tute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and SummitSkills which found 97% of plumbing and heating profession- als think it is important for the industry to recruit more apprentices. Similarly, 98% said they thought it was important for the industry to collectively promote career pro- gression but only 40% believe the current qualification system is fit for purpose and meets the needs of apprentices, employers and the industry as a whole. The Local Government Association (LGA) also previously attributed this shortfall to the education system. The Association claims, despite the recession, there is a need to recruit many more electricians, plumbers, engineers and environmental officers than the system is creating. It says, while some professions are over-subscribed, last year fewer than 40,000 people were trained to fill around 72,000 new jobs in the building and engineering trades. Likewise, in the construction sector, 123,000 people were adequately trained for 275,000 advertised jobs – this equates to more than two jobs for every quali- fied person. The LGA blames a huge skills mismatch on a Further Education system which allocates college funding based on studying and passing qualifications rather than the getting Apprentices and the Skills Shortage The skills shortage in UK construction industry can be attribut- ed to a number of things. Fewer young people interested in the sector, a post-recession downturn in the housebuilding market and employers unable invest in training. But is it true now and what is the outlook? We review the current situation and look at ways the future of the industry can be safeguarded. M