In its Future Skills Report, the Council recommended that instead of relying on a self-employed workforce, clients should agree to a code of employment ensuring those working on a project are directly employed.
The construction industry as a whole is currently on the cusp of one of it’s most successful periods in history with £60bn in the pipeline. However, according to the report, more than 40% of construction workers are still self employed and 40% of employers don’t provide training.
Marion Marsland, Chief Executive of TICA, said: “Direct employment is something we continue to encourage at TICA, and we welcome the Construction Leadership Council’s call to cut self-employed workers. “Here at TICA all of our apprentices are directly employed and this year we have invested over £500k to develop our training centre. This ensures that the training received is delivered to the highest standard, meaning that apprentices are able to bring new skills, have experience of complex projects and are able to draw from their education in any
future situation.“It is vital that this is the course that the industry must now take, especially if it is to secure the growth in skilled operative numbers that we all agree is required. A more directly employed workforce will mean that training is a priority and is fully funded for the employer, something which will benefit the individual, the company and the client.
“The obvious question from a small contractor is, when will the client be willing to pay for the additional costs? At these early stages, this is something that is not entirely clear yet.”
TICA members are invited to discuss the report and how to reduce potential barriers to direct employment at their regional meetings.
Marion added: “We must accept the many challenges currently faced by smaller contractors due to the cyclical nature of work within the industry, but we also acknowledge that there are benefits and commercial advantages to be gained with a directly employed workforce. This includes improving the quality and efficiency of work, and in particular, attracting skills and talent back into our sector.”
The report also warns of the “increasing expectations of clients who are not prepared to settle for the fragmented offerings of the past.”
Mark Reynolds, Skills Workstream Lead at the CLC, said: “This important report clearly sets out the challenge the industry and our clients face and the actions that must be taken now to avoid significant skills shortages in the future.
“When we have seen projects with higher levels of direct employment the results are often better, the workforce more engaged, and ultimately the client and end users are happier with the final product.”
To read the full report click here.
Or click here to check the dates of your next regional meeting
