The UK Construction Industry Skills Shortage Crisis - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages It includes such a diversified group of workers like carpenters, specialty bricklayers and slate and tile roofers, lead-workers and stonemasons and joiners to work in the construction industry estimated to be worth over £3.5billion across England every year. It was also felt that there will be a severe shortage of different construction workers involved with skills such as drystone walling, thatching, millwrighting, earth walling, and flint-knapping incoming 15-20 years in the United Kingdom. In England today, there are currently only around 270 professional members of the Dry Stone Walling Association, under 1,000 thatchers, and about 50 firms who work on cob and earth buildings. In the next one year alone, there is a need for almost 200 lime plasterers, around 140 wattle and daub craftspeople, over 100 glaziers, over 80 clay dobbins craftspeople, and almost 60 cob builders and dry stone wallers.

It reflects the fact that not only does the report produce yet further evidence that heritage conservation skills1 are at risk, but uniquely it puts forward an action plan to tackle specific problems. Hence it is high time for all policymakers and entrepreneurs for joined-up thinking and concerted action across the construction industry, the built heritage sector, educational establishments, careers organizations, funding bodies, and government departments to tackle a vital issue that is at the heart of sustaining two
1: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk.

things which people hold very dear in London - beautiful historic buildings and the craftsmanship that maintains them.
In the case of private buildings, almost two-thirds of public and commercial stockholders and private home dwellers expressed a high level of satisfaction with the work done on their property. However, under half were happy with the completion time of the work, with 54 percent of public and commercial stockholders and 42 percent of private stockholders citing a labor or skills shortage as the reason for a delay. The shortage in many parts of the country is so acute that there can be a wait of over three months for the right skilled craftsperson, potentially putting buildings at risk. ...Download file to see next pages Read More