The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors echoes the sentiments in your report (Construction firms highlight skills shortage, 10 October) and shares the same concerns as the politicians and key construction firms. Our own research on worsening skills shortages revealed that 27,000 building projects are set to suffer within the next five years and that this trend is now an issue across many built-environment sectors. One of the main contributors to this skills shortage is a lack of young people entering the industry. It is our role to tackle the root of the problem and inform youngsters about the exciting opportunities the construction industry has to offer.
The surveying sector, in particular, has fantastic opportunities for young people to help plan and manage the creation of iconic buildings. To attract young talent into the fold, the RICS has helped create a new degree apprenticeship, offering an alternative to the traditional higher education pathways.
The industry is growing but companies must collaborate further to offer a variety of pathways to young people to ensure progression is sustainable across the entire built-environment industry. The RICS welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with industry bodies in other sectors, including linking to exciting developments in technology to help shape educational programmes like its own degree apprenticeship.
Alan Muse
Global director of built environment professional groups, RICS
