Professional Builders Merchant

The situation is partly the painful legacy of the last big recession during the early nineties, when huge numbers of 16 - 24 year olds were lost to the industry for ever — and the impact will be greater this time around. For example, currently only 12% of workers in the sector are under the age of 24 in comparison to 22% two decades ago.

Simply put, many young people no longer view construction as offering a stable career or opportunities for progression. And this comes against a backdrop of the CIB suggesting that as many as 43,000 young people need to be recruited each year until 2015 to head off a damaging skills shortage — one that will clearly hamper Government targets for new build construction and energy saving measures.
The need to reach out to potential vocational students at grassroots levels has never been greater, with the situation compounded by the legacy of the Labour Government’s policy target of getting 50% of school leavers to university — a noble gesture but one that was wholly and literally impractical. Described by the Association of Graduate Recruiters as “having driven down standards and devalued degrees”, the initiative also took people surely better suited to vocational professions away from those markets.

Whilst this Government continues to make the right noises about getting more school leavers into apprenticeships, and has committed additional funds to potential employers, there are fears that controversial reforms and cuts to the careers advice service will mean that young people risk losing out on face-to-face support and other essential services to help them plan their futures.

For its part the CITB is picking up the mantel with its Positive Image Campaign, and will be undertaking in excess of 450 events in schools throughout the remainder of 2011, as well as supporting national and regional careers and recruitment sessions. It strongly believes that with university fees at an all time high more and more young people will be considering other options, presenting a wonderful opportunity to highlight the excellent opportunities which exist for career progression within construction.

Hopefully many young people will also be inspired by what they saw at last month’s WorldSkills event at Excel. More than 1,000 youngsters from over 50 countries took part in what has been described as the ‘Skills Olympics’ whilst the four-day event also featured an exhibition and conference programme that attracted more than 150,00 visitors — including David Cameron, Business Secretary Vince Cable and Boris Johnson.

Sponsors included Plumbase and Travis Perkins along with a host of suppliers to the construction sector, and it imperative that all corners of the industry play their part in encouraging a new generation of tradesmen to pick up their tools. We need to finally nail the myth that university is the pinnacle, and a career using your hands is somehow to be looked down upon. Whilst a university education should be open to all — based on true academic ability, but regardless of class or income — it shouldn’t be ‘universal’ and for many young people, developing a practical trade is something they will be better suited to — and they could also earn more money doing it.
The country is already facing an industrial timebomb with this skills shortage, but there is still a chance to limit the damage and, in doing so, help secure the growth and prosperity of the industry — and in turn the nation — for future generations.