The Construction Centre.co.uk Seeks to Help Reduce the UK Building Industry Skills Shortage

Kenilworth, United Kingdom, May 18, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The Construction Centre today issued concern for the UK building industry, which is currently seeing continued improvement and buoyancy in the market but which is also simultaneously experiencing a skills shortage. Many industry pundits have also highlighted their worries that despite the apparent boom, many contractors are struggling to find labour particularly for tradesmen such as plumbers, bricklayers and carpenters.

It has been widely documented that for the last few years there has been a significant reduction in the amount of people entering the trade sector of the building industry and new schemes and apprenticeships have been set up to encourage numbers. The most recent schemes have been the Programme Led Apprenticeships which has a target of establishing 3000 placements by 2008 and the Construction and Built Environment Diploma which will give just under 4000 students both practical and theoretical skills enabling them to enter the building industry successfully.

Although these schemes will undoubtedly help to bring new people into construction in the near future, the skills shortage remains a problem for contractors who are managing projects which are currently underway. The situation has been slightly relieved by an increase in the employment of migrant workers, which has helped to fill the void in order for contractors to meet deadlines and project schedules. However industry commentators believe this will not be a permanent solution to the skills shortage and there have already been reports of projects being delayed due to the lack of workforce numbers. The Construction Centre.co.uk is encouraging the building industry to expand their network of resources by using the website to establish new contacts and suppliers.

Richard Simmons, Managing Director of The Construction Centre, said, “With the increase in building projects across all sectors of the industry over the last 10 years and the reduction in people choosing construction as a career, it is inevitable that we are now seeing a skills shortage. The Construction Centre website primarily delivers information to people who need to source building product manufacturers and suppliers but it is also committed to creating a network where people can seek new employment opportunities, find professionals and tradesmen and potential new contracts within construction.”

He continued; “The Construction Centre website is an invaluable resource which provides a way for the UK building industry to establish new contacts and connections through one online location. We want to encourage people in construction to use the network, established through our website in order to help reduce the skills gap the industry is currently experiencing. Any tradesman, contractor or professional can register their details on our website free of charge and will be listed in their skill sector and county.”

The Construction Centre website is one of the largest UK online resources for the building industry providing a wealth of specialist information to people and professionals across every sector of the construction market.

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