by Tim Stringer, divisional director, Integral Build.
The subject of apprenticeships is a complex and thorny one right now. The Government has promised to create three million more of them by 2020. Some say this target will mean quality will be sacrificed for quantity, ticking a box but actually doing little to fix our current skills shortages in any logical or planned way. 
Recently Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted’s chief inspector, told the CBI that there were too few apprenticeships being created in areas where the skills shortages are really hurting us, such as bricklaying and engineering.
The number of ‘business, administration and law’ apprenticeships has almost doubled since 2010 while the number of construction apprenticeships has actually declined.
I can see evidence of this statistic every day as our project managers face the challenge of finding a big enough pool of skilled domestic labour to complete contracts. I have had to pay workers from abroad on a sub contracted basis before now to get a job finished. And it’s across the board – it’s not just plasterers, electricians and fitters we’re short of, it’s mid to senior level managers too.
If you are a surveyor or an estimator, you can pretty much name your price at the moment. The global workforce is plugging the gaps that we can’t fill with our own home grown talent, because we just don’t have enough of it. Major infrastructure projects such as Hinkley C and HS2 are going to exacerbate the issue.
What’s the solution? Business, education and politicians need to work together or we are all facing some major issues over the next few years. We need to stop setting unrealistic targets and go back to basics.
The construction industry needs to continue and try harder to improve its image so that young people see it as a viable, sustainable and highly rewarding career choice.
Integral Build specialises in construction, interiors, refurbishment and fit out projects across the southern half of the UK.
