Construction and building services contracts study - Sept '05

Skills shortages faced by the buoyant construction sector in the Highlands and Islands are highlighted in this report.

Seventy eight per cent of employers who took part in the study, commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), The Highland Council and Communities Scotland, said they are currently experiencing recruitment difficulties. Of those, 17 per cent said the difficulties were 'significant.'

Skills shortages were identified in the main trades involved in the construction industry and in management positions. The report also forecasts that demand for skilled workers in the area will continue to climb over the next five years, with additional spending of at least £1.6 billion on building, repair and maintenance creating a minimum of 943 full-time equivalent jobs and safeguarding 1,716.

A series of recommendations in the report are now being taken forward as a matter of priority by the bodies involved and other partner organisations. The recommendations were: 

• To devise a construction and building services strategy for the Highlands and Islands addressing the issues;
• Public sector bodies to continue to encourage all employers, particularly small ones, to participate in workforce training;
• Public sector to review tendering and contracting procedures to encourage smaller businesses to bid for contracts;
•  All bodies and employers to continue working in partnership to address the issues.

A copy of the report is available here in MS Word format.