A Plymouth’s construction boom has led to huge demand for apprentices as firms face a shortage of labour - partly due to Brexit.
The UK construction sector has lost 46% of its skilled EU workers, according to University of Oxford research, and this skills shortage has been compounded by an ageing population and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Plymouth, where several large infrastructure projects are currently underway, there is growing demand for construction staff, including apprentices needed to form the next generation of workers.
Plymouth firm Greenlight Safety and Training, which runs training schemes for construction companies and trains apprentices, said it is experiencing an “incredible boom in construction industry apprenticeship take ups from Plymouth companies”.
In December 93 employers contacted it needing apprentices to start between January and April 2021 and a further five firms, needing 10 apprentices between them, came forward in the first weeks of the new year.
The firm began trading as a safety and training consultancy in 2009 and has a large number of clients in the construction industry giving it a solid insight into the marketplace.
Harvey Smith, commercial manager at the Roborough-based business, said: “The industry is extremely resilient. In the South West the volume of work coming through the pipeline is massive, and then there are projects that are currently running.”
Dan Symons, director and owner of Greenlight Safety and Training, added: “It (the construction industry) would be doing well for any time period. Since July 2020 it has been really busy. In November we thought there would be a downturn, because of the lockdown, but that didn’t happen, and if anything it seems more busy.”
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Mr Symons said there are several factors as to why construction needs more workers, including demand side issues such as delays caused when the industry initially locked down in March.
With the Government swiftly allowing construction to continue, pushed-back deadlines butted into the start of new contracts meaning firms had multiple projects to work on, thus needing more staff.
There is also an increase in domestic work, with Mr Harvey explaining: “People are not going on holiday and have money to spend on improving their homes, with things like extensions and loft conversions.”
Then there are the supply side factors including loss of EU workers, with Mr Symons saying: “With Brexit, a lot of the labour force is returning to Europe, that will have an impact.”
Mr Smith said young people, especially those facing the end of school in 2021, should consider a career in construction, and an apprenticeship.
But the industry and apprenticeships are not restricted to only the young and some firms need workers now.
He said: “We have a message to parents and school-leavers that there are job opportunities out there, there are employers looking for immediate starts for apprentices, and that could be for all ages.”
He said firms should also be aware that apprenticeship schemes are continuing and stressed: “The apprenticeship process is going forward.”
Me Symons said people looking for a new career, possibly following Covid-related redundancy should also think about the construction industry as an option and added: “There may be people who have worked in retail, for example, and are now looking for a change.
“But for those that finishing school this year, their parents can start contacting us now and we can start to plan for August or September or whenever.”
Mr Smith said the firm is running free two-week pre-employment courses, leading to a qualification in construction skills, which makes them more attractive to employers.
He said this could be useful for people who had worked in retail or hospitality “which have been decimated” during the pandemic, but have highly transferable skills.
“It also gives them a taster of what areas they might want to go into,” said Mr Symons.
