A leading tax advisor has reported a spike in the number of enquiries from UK contractors considering working in IrelandConstruction leaders are encouraging companies to increase their apprenticeship activities after predicting there will be approximately 3,300 new jobs in the sector in the North East by 2020.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) reported that the region’s total construction output has risen for the second consecutive year. The research, part of the CITB’s Construction Skills Network report, states the 16% rise in construction output means the sector was, up until 2015, worth £4.6bn to the region.
Including the upcoming new roles, the jobs in the area will take the total to 98,130, with the biggest increase set to be among construction trade supervisors, with an average yearly increase of 4.7%.
According to the report, the region’s annual recruitment requirement of 3,510, accounts for 7.9% of the UK total and represents 3.5% of projected employment in the North East, higher than the UK ratio of 1.7%.
CITB sector strategy manager for the North East, Steve Housden, said: “We can’t build the Britain we want without apprenticeships and the careers they lead to.
“That’s why we want these new statistics, showing solid, sustained growth, to inspire more people across North East to start apprenticeships and more construction firms to take them on.
“We also want to attract workers who have left the industry to return, and upskill those in it, so we can deliver major projects and new housing faster and better.”
The chairman of Construction Alliance North East (CAN), Jeff Alexander, said: “These latest output figures are great news and it is extremely encouraging to hear that the region’s construction sector continues to see improvement on this level.
“Many of CAN’s member companies have already increased their recruitment of apprentices and other trainees. We would hope that this will be maintained and extended further, particularly in light of the positive responses we are getting with regard to future opportunities for our members.”
Managing Director of Story Homes’ North East division, Ian Worgan, said: “These figures from the Construction Training Board certainly ring true with Story Homes, and some of those 3,300 jobs will come from our developments in the region. The Home Builders Federation estimates that each now home creates approximately four new jobs directly and through the supply chain.
“Construction in the North East is buoyant and housebuilders are seeing large numbers of sites coming to the region. Factors like mortgage affordability, delayed interest rate rises and the Government’s Help to Buy scheme are really benefiting our sector.
“As the industry gains momentum we will begin to feel the constraints of skills shortages, and that’s why we are dedicated to bringing apprentices through our business.”
Chris Cant, managing director at Metnor, said: “Depending upon rate of growth I’d say the predicted jobs figure is probably too light – we are currently turning down at least one opportunity every couple of weeks.”
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