200,00 new homes is great Mr Cameron but who is going to build them?

200,00 new homes is great Mr Cameron but who is going to build them?

In the run up to National Apprenticeship Week (March 9th-13th), the boss of a Derby building firm welcomes yesterday’s (March 2nd) pledge by the Tory leader to build 200,000 new homes for first time buyers. However, he also claims that without a more holistic approach to apprenticeships, we cannot hope to have the skills to build them.  

Ian Hodgkinson, managing director of Hodgkinson Builders on Pride Park, who employs over 100 bricklayers said:

“There were two announcements yesterday which I found frustrating and hugely encouraging. Firstly, David Cameron’s pledge will be welcomed by those of us in the trade as it means jobs and growth. However, I really do worry that we haven’t go the required skills-base in this country’s labour force to deliver these projects - it’s a legacy from the recession.

“During the downturn, instead of putting out fires, we should have been preparing for the upturn. The Government should have been investing in training young people in readiness for the market picking up again - just as Mr Cameron is now promising with these houses.”

“However, at the same time, I echo yesterday’s announcement by the British Chambers of Commerce, who published the BCC Workforce Survey, Developing the Talents of the Next Generation.

“This noted that ‘57% of employers cite a lack of soft skills such as communication, resilience and team working, as the main reason why young people are unprepared for the world of work.”

“This is just as much an issue in construction as it is across the UK labour force. If we are to develop the stars of the future for our industry it isn’t just about the ability to lay bricks or erect scaffolding. There are softer skills that need to be mastered, be they punctuality, courtesy, confidence or even driving. It is little use hiring young apprentices if they can’t get to site and even worse when they don’t necessarily see the impact that tardiness or a perceived lack of respect can have on their employer and ultimately, their career.

“I’m sure this will be the case across many industries but I will concentrate on my own and to that end, I am already exploring the possibilities of linking up with education providers to create a holistic approach to training apprentices.

“There is a real opportunity to be grasped, let’s just hope our future stars can take advantage of it.”