Skills Shortage - Bridging the Gap
Every year thousands of young people try to gain employment in construction industry, the majority end up being employed through employment agencies where there are no training opportunities. If a contractor wishes to take on and train a worker direct, the agency will charge up to 20% of the worker’s wage as a finder’s fee. We are told that there is a huge skills gap in the construction industry, so what’s the answer?
It takes just one boardroom decision, and as the public sector is the largest spender in the construction industry and the biggest user of agency labour, we believe that the revolution should begin in council offices across the UK. After all, the Government has charged every council with saving money and improving the community and the prospects of its young people. Ensuring local youngsters are guaranteed a proportion of the jobs on local construction contracts tendered out by local councils is not beyond the realms of possibility. Actually, does this need to stop at construction contracts, how about logistics, catering, property maintenance? Now isn’t that interesting?
Company director Carolyn Walsh is in contact with John Healey, Minister of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, and has let him know what the feeling is on the street. She says, ‘”I found Mr Healey to be very approachable when he was head of state at the Treasury when I voiced concerns about the introduction of the CIS legislation. I also helped in the consultation process when the Treasury brought in new legislation which outlawed composite companies, so I was really pleased when John became head of DCLG because I know he will listen and support this initiative.”
Take a look at http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/ this department promotes the ideal of bridging the gap and improving communities.
Hint:
All construction industry contractors, including those in the Public Sector should ask two questions before employing agency labour;
- Does the agency employ workers direct?
- Does the agency employ workers under a contract of employment?
If the answer is no, then a contractor becomes part of the skills shortage problem, not the solution.
Many employment agencies provide a valuable service by sourcing quality skilled labour for construction industry contractors. We are very happy to recommend the best ones on request.
Click on the following images to enlarge
