Leading names in East Yorkshire’s construction industry came together this week for an exhibition focused on building “a team for the future.”
Foundations Live, hosted by Hull construction firm Hobson & Porter, was launched in a bid to address the worrying skills gap faced by the industry.
Just under 10,000 construction jobs are expected to be needed across Yorkshire in the next five years, and currently concerns linger as to who will fill the roles.
The fourth annual event at Bishop Burton College took place on Wednesday, October 2, and attracted 16 schools from the region, over 70 exhibitors and hundreds of visitors.
It is hoped events like Foundations Live will help build the sustainable workforce of the future.
Dave Blades, director at Hobson & Porter, said: “This year was all about momentum after last year, highlighting the importance in working together to increase the workforce in the construction industry.
“A lot of hard work has gone on and events like Foundations showcase the power of collaboration and the hard work the industry is doing together to showcase the wealth of opportunity in the construction industry.”
“Thanks to everyone who has supported Foundations Live. None of this is possible without the individual support of organisations both for today’s event and throughout the last 12 months.”
Among those at this year’s event was DIY SOS star Mark Millar.
The BBC television presenter returned to the line-up for 2019, having visited East Yorkshire for last year’s Foundations Live.
He said: “It was better than last year with more floor space and more contributors.
“Events like Foundations are really important. Construction is an industry that actually cares and this is an industry that will deliver so many different trades – from architecture and gardeners, through to brick layers and plumbers.
“All the different trades have been brought together under one roof and all the contributors at Foundations want to bring these kids forward, want to give them a chance and that is what it is all about.”
According to CITB’s (Construction Industry Training Board) forecast, there will be over 9,000 new construction jobs in the Yorkshire and Humber region over the next five years which will need to be filled.
East Yorkshire glazing specialist EYG also exhibited at the event this year.
Nicola Arnott, marketing director, said: “The construction industry is facing a skills shortage and we need to recruit the next generation of people who will shape the construction sector.
“Here at EYG we run an apprenticeship scheme which is incredibly important to our business.
“Apprenticeships are helping us build a team for the future. The mixture of on and off-the-job training means our apprentices learn skills that work best for our business.
“Foundations Live enables us to engage with students and highlight the roles available at EYG.”
