The construction and house building industry has an image problem. Mention this as a career and young people’s minds drift to the prospect of standing in a pair of wellies in a muddy field, with a hard hat on, in this freezing weather.
The reality of course is somewhat different, but this is no joke, given reports of a serious shortage across all trades and professions in this sector, from bricklayers to building and quantity surveyors. Scottish chairman of RICS, Archie Rintoul says the organisation has met with the Scottish Government to highlight the importance of this issue: “We are also liaising with colleges and universities to encourage interest in the built environment as part of the new curriculum and make school students aware of the whole range of trades and professions they can enter.”
Homes for Scotland chief executive Nicola Barclay blames a triple whammy resulting from the economic crash nearly a decade ago. “This brought a complete freeze on recruitment and a lot of people left the industry with a bitter taste in their mouth, no new people came into the business for a few years, and, especially on the trade side, there are a lot of older guys now reaching retirement.
There is also the prospect of European labour coming over the horizon as well.”
Following the downturn, numbers going through RICS or RTPI (town planning) courses have really dropped, except for international students, who often then export their knowledge to another country. One panel session at the conference will discuss how to persuade more teenagers to think about a career in this industry, whether this is through trade apprenticeships or going to college or universities to earn some built environment qualification.
The sector realises that it is not good at selling itself as a fun work environment, but whether it be as an accountant, customer services adviser, sales person, or surveyor, it can offer interesting and well paid job opportunities.
This session, including Gemma Smith from Women in Property and Gordon Nelson, director of the Federation of Master Builders, will also discuss how to increase diversity.
Several Scottish companies, including Savills, Doig & Smith, Gibbon Lawson McKee and Scottish Canals have already demonstrated a commitment to this by signing up to an RICS “Inclusive Employer” quality mark.
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