Pro Installer July 2015 - Issue 28

37 PRO INSTALLER JULY 2015 @proinstaller1 Half Page Document Q Ad.qxp_ThirdColumn 02/07/2015 17:00 Page 1 Skills shortages hit more than half of midsized firms Skills shortages are holding back more than half of medium-sized construction firms as demand in the sector continues to surge, new research suggests. Some 53% of mid-sized businesses said the lack of trained staff was impacting on their ability to take on work, according to the survey from insurance group Zurich. But more than 65% of construction bosses who took part in the survey felt positive about the state of their order books, saying tender volumes were continuing to rise. There is however continued pressure to find staff with the right skill sets with bricklayers and carpenters cited as being particularly in demand. Among the strategies being used to tackle the talent shortage, apprenticeships are the most common. Some 35% of firms polled have in place on-the-job training schemes. Many other businesses, around 33%, are training existing staff rather than recruiting externally. Some 35% have turned to other forms of training, including initiatives run in partnership with local colleges. The poll, for which 200 medium-sized building firms were contacted, suggests the issue could become more serious unless action is taken across the industry. More than half, 52%, of firms said they expect skills shortages to become a greater concern over the next five years. PRO SKILLS #HardwareHero ARE YOU READY FOR DOCUMENT Q? To help you prepare for the impending changes, Window Ware have developed a range of downloads and handy tips for best advice Visit windowware.co.uk to ﬁnd out more and download your free guide to Document Q ‘businesses are showing no signs of reducing their staff commitments’ Yet businesses are showing no signs of reducing their staff commitments, as just 6% expect to take on fewer workers over the coming months and years. In contrast, 28% say they intend to employ staff directly in 2015 instead of subcontracting. And a further 23% of business leaders thought that skills shortages were already showing signs of easing. Source: www.citb.co.uk Pick up the PRO Installer, FREE, from one of over 600 trade counters. © Kestrel BCE Limited 2010. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Phone | 01234 242724 Online | windowware.co.uk

Pro Installer July 2015 - Issue 28 | Page 37