Bridging Skills Gap Key for Growth Says NAPIT
While the construction industry is seeing positive growth, various reports are suggesting that the construction skills gap is still holding back businesses from truly taking advantage. NAPIT say that dedicated, industry training courses could be the solution.
Construction activity increased for the eleventh straight quarter over the last three months of 2015, but firms are still struggling to recruit the skilled tradespeople needed to meet demand, according to the Construction Products Association (CPA). This comes at a time when a report from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows the skills shortage in the construction sector is also driving up wages and holding back work. Wages rose by 6% in 2015, compared to the 2% UK average, because there are not enough workers.
Construction companies are becoming increasingly worried about the lack of skills within the industry. The Skills & Demand in Industry Report 2015, produced by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), surveyed a range of businesses. 64 per cent of those surveyed said that a shortage of engineers in the UK is a threat to their business and 66 per cent are concerned that the education system will struggle to keep up with the skills required for technological change.
Michael Collinge, Head of NAPIT Training, said: "The construction industry desperately needs an influx of skilled installers to meet increasing demand and dedicated training courses are available to achieve this. We feel that more must be done to ensure anyone interested in entering various trades within the construction industry is gaining the appropriate skills to do so. If this skills gap is allowed to grow, the future of the industry is not looking secure."
NAPIT Training delivers a comprehensive portfolio of training and assessment with courses certificated or accredited by City & Guilds, BPEC and Logic. These courses are delivered through a network of regional UK training centres.
To view the full list of courses available on offer, visit www.napittraining.co.uk
Article Published:
18 April 2016
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