Collaboration is needed in construction

THE construction industry must pull together and ensure all stakeholders are “singing from the same hymn sheet” if it is to succeed in making the sector appealing as a career path to a diverse cross-section of young people – thus securing the talent and numbers of individuals it will need for future growth.

That was how Alan Brayley, managing director of AB Glass, started the round-table discussion which was sponsored by his firm.

He added: “We are engaged with a number of schemes that mean we work with young people and schools and, on the whole, they are simply unaware of the opportunities available to them in the construction industry. But, as businesses, that is a problem down the line – as businesses, we need to act.”

Michael Chaney, supply chain manager at Willmott Dixon, added that, as a contractor, the company does find it hard to engage with young people directly, as most of its work is done through subcontractors. But he agreed the industry needs to do more.

“Young people don’t realise the range of trades this industry needs; we must educate them on what we can offer as a career and show them its value,” he said. “The industry is evolving but we need to demonstrate the long-term career this industry can offer them.”

Simon Cook, pre-construction manager at Kier Construction, added that Kier invests heavily in a number of initiatives to engage with young people, including the Educational Engagement Programme, which is designed to give curriculum providers and local employers from the industry the opportunity to come together to create links and external partnerships in order to better promote the diverse range of future career opportunities for young people. But he questioned whether a number of apprenticeships are available in the region.

Anthony Thomas, managing director of ASW Property Services, as well as a director of Cyfle, the South West Wales Shared Apprentice Scheme, and chair of the Swansea Bay Construction Support Group, said that while schemes such as Cyfle had been successful, he has noted a drop-off in interest in training to enter the industry.

“There needs to be a more joinedup approach,” he said.

Owain Jones, director of TRJ, echoed the fact that Cyfle has worked well in many ways and said that 95% of its participants end up in education or work.

But he too said that more suitable sources were needed in the education sector. He added that the industry has been “fire-fighting” for years, with shrinking margins and skills shortages.

“Given the pressures, it can be hard to bring on apprentices,” he said.

Paul Kift, director of skills and business development at Gower College Swansea, said the college had seen a sharp rise in the number of applicants for apprenticeships more generally. He suggested this was due to a wider understanding of the benefits of apprenticeships and the fact that the cost of going to university is increasing.

Rob Lewis, learning area manager for construction at Gower College Swansea, added that the college’s construction courses are also enjoying strong growth in this regard. He said interest in working in the sector was increasing, from his perspective.

Cerys Furlong, chief executive of Chwarae Teg, added that the perception of the industry was unhelpful in terms of encouraging a more diverse range of people into the industry. She said many roles would not appeal to young women because of these perceptions and the way the roles are marketed.

“The industry is missing a trick,” she said.

Donna Griffiths, partnership manager Wales at the Construction Industry Training Board Wales (CITB), said that colleges need to be responsive to employers’ needs and that a more co-ordinated approach to recruitment is needed. She said that too many initiatives were effectively competing while more needs to be done to show young people true career progression in the sector.

Gerald Naylor, director of the Construction Wales Innovation Centre within UWTSD, added that the industry is failing to tell young people about the many different roles available and the different levels they can reach within these. He added that it is tough for colleges because they can’t easily secure funding for innovative new courses.

“It takes time – we need quicker ways for new courses to be developed and funded,” he said. “The colleges deliver what they are funded to deliver, so it is hard for them to diversify; it is difficult for them to respond to local needs.”

Mr Naylor added that a traditional driver of this sector in the past has been efforts by the UK government to promote apprenticeships, boosting numbers in the process.

Mr Cook agreed that this was a problem, stressing that it was tough for colleges to know where the skills gaps are in industry and what courses they should be putting on as a result.

Justin John, director of Access Control, a division of AB Glass, agreed, noting that there is no college course available anywhere in Wales covering access control, despite the fact that it is a growth industry with a skills shortage.

Ian Morgan, managing director of Morganstone, agreed that a more joined-up approach is needed in the sector but said the industry is missing a trick by not making it clear to young people what they can earn within the construction industry.

“There are plenty of young people with university degrees who cannot get a job; those that do will be lucky to earn £30K. But a good bricklayer can earn £50K-£60K easily. There are plenty of estimators on £100K a year. Why aren’t we telling them that?” Mr Morgan said.

Mr Brayley noted that his concern was that education was effectively biased towards encouraging students to remain in education, since this is their revenue stream.

Mr Chaney agreed, noting that few teachers have a deep understanding of the opportunities available in construction. Ms Furlong also pointed out that most teachers these days went to university.

Rhys Fisher, placement co-ordinator at Cyfle Building Skills, added that, when he does talks in schools, the teachers are often as keen to ask questions as the pupils – because they don’t realise what is on offer.

He said the careers advice services in schools need to be updated to reflect the full range of opportunities in construction – and also the fact it is increasingly diverse and open to women.

Mr Brayley added that, in his experience, fewer young people were opting for university now.

“They are becoming more savvy,” he said. “They realise they can earn and learn at the same time with an apprenticeship. Also, they realise that by going to university they miss out on experience and money – and they end up with debt.”

Ms Griffiths said that websites such as GoConstruct, an online portal for jobs in the construction industry, are designed to help solve some of these challenges and showcase the career paths available. But the industry needs to use it and embrace it, she said, as well as retaining the best people.

Mr Thomas added that an additional challenge the sector faces is securing teachers of a sufficient quality to deliver these courses.

“If you don’t get good enough people to deliver these courses, that is a real challenge,” he said.