Skilled workers needed to meet future construction

More young people need to be attracted to jobs in the construction industry to fulfil plans for 80,000 new homes in Lincolnshire within the next decade.

It is feared that today’s students do not see the building sector as “first choice” when considering future career options and parents can discourage them further because they see it as an “unstable” industry in terms of job security.

But Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership has outlined its ambition for growth which could increase the value of the local economy by £3.2billion and see thousands of homes built and jobs created.

Lincolnshire County Council’s economic scrutiny committee has now called for more work to be done to ensure students and jobless people are in position to take full advantage of the opportunities the growth will create.

This will include opportunities for young people to take up apprenticeships and gain work experience, as well as being made aware about the wide choice of jobs available, such as architects and quantity surveyors.

At a recent meeting of the economic scrutiny committee, members also said there was a need for businesses to go into schools to talk to pupils about their work and the skills needed and for learning providers to share information with each other to encourage young people.

Members were told that proactive work was already taking place, with the county council organising a conference with colleges, children’s services and the Education and Skills Board which would bring together headteachers and representatives of the construction industry in order to challenge perceptions.

Around 40 to 50 people from schools have already signed up to attend the Go Growth conference about the economy.

Members of the economic scrutiny committee have resolved to ensure that the “resources” – in terms of skilled workers – will be available to carry out the construction required in the county in the next ten years.

They have vowed to work with the construction industry to understand the extent and timing of increased demand and ensure that all colleges and schools were made aware of the likely growth in demand for construction workers.

They also want to ensure young people and their parents receive accurate information to enable them to make informed choices about future careers.
Work will also be carried out with JobCentre Plus to prepare currently unemployed people for the opportunities that lie ahead.