September 2015
Featured in this insight: Central government & non-department public bodies, Construction, Manufacturing, engineering & industrial
Survey shows building of new houses slowing due to ‘lack of skilled contractors’: Government proposals to build new homes have been hampered due to a shortage of sufficiently skilled tradesmen.
Housing minister, Brandon Lewis stated last week that the government aimed to construct over 1 million houses to combat the nation’s housing crisis.
The proposition was put forward in response to findings from the National Housing Federation showing that between 2011 and 2014 less than 460,000 new homes were built.
Lewis’ statement coincides with the conclusion of a recent study that proclaims that around 35% of contracting businesses are finding it hard to source tradesmen with the relevant skills needed. With over 100 companies taking part, it was revealed that it was becoming increasingly hard to appoint applicants who could fulfil the roles of site managers, electricians and quantity surveyors among others.
Despite the struggle nearly 90% of construction companies are hoping to take on new staff to fill the 100,000 job openings expected to arise within the next year; with tradesman and management deemed to be the most desirable.
The government’s plans to increase the country’s housing supply arose due to reports from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors claiming that the number of homes up for sale has fallen to its lowest in 37 years.
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