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Skills Shortages

Timothy East
The construction industry (namely services) is suffering from skills shortages without an apparent solution. There has been a flurry of press activity but not much action. How does the industry make itself more attractive to the younger generation? There are short training courses offered but these are not the solution and there are many mature people entering the industry on the promise of a quick buck. The majority of these (that I have encountered) have little passion for the industry and the quality of work can be quite poor. We don't want to end up in a situation whereby these guys are training the next generation.

 

I think that the apprentice schemes should be made easier for SME's to take part in. Many are small concerns and cannot commit to the burden. However, some of these owner operators have so much experience to offer and it's a shame to let the knowledge pass by. Perhaps the 'apprentice' could be in charge of his/her own portfolio and it to be made easier for them to jump between companies to gain their experience? The colleges could hold a register of approved organisations so that the system is not abused by people wanting cheap labour....


I have met youngsters that have been able to attend and pass the first year of college but unable to progress further because they cannot find companies interested in taking them on. How can this be so with the skills crisis? I presume the bureaucracy is putting off the SME's.


I would guess that other industries have similar issues?
Parents
  • 0
    These are the messages teenagers commonly hear in the UK at present (based on my experience in volunteering in schools and from raising two of my own):
    • You must get a high level qualification (degree or better) or you won't get a job (untrue).

    • If you do get a job it won't be for life, you will need to keep constantly "selling" yourself to get new jobs (sadly true).

    • It is all up to you, if you fail it is nobody's fault but your own. No one's going to help you. (Hmmm....)


    Given those messages it's not going to be surprising if many just give up. The teenager who says "there's no point me trying anything, I'm just useless" is far too depressingly common in the UK, and incredibly hard to break through. Some of the messages above will only serve to reinforce this idea in their heads. 


    There's not much we - the engineering profession - can do about the middle point above, although we can offer far more in, for example, independent advice on CV writing and interview skills, and indeed general career development skills.


    The first and last we definitely need to help more with. The great thing about engineering, compared to any other profession, is that there are so many routes into it, and we need to be shouting about this far more. And for the last one, I believe that the "Professional Home For Life" should be about far more than just getting more professional registrants, it should be genuinely supporting "engineers" from their schooldays through to retirement. We have a huge network of potential mentors to help people through tough times and tough decisions, if only we can effectively put them in touch with those who need them.


    Having been brought up in pretty rough north London schools in the '60s and '70s I don't believe that children today are any lazier than they ever were. (The main goals for most at my secondary school were "bunking off" at any opportunity and then finding a job where "you could sit on your a*** all day". In fact I doubt this attitude has ever changed throughout the whole history of human society.) But children today are in a far more stressful situation than we were. I'm impressed that so many are as proactive as they are.


    Andy
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  • 0
    These are the messages teenagers commonly hear in the UK at present (based on my experience in volunteering in schools and from raising two of my own):
    • You must get a high level qualification (degree or better) or you won't get a job (untrue).

    • If you do get a job it won't be for life, you will need to keep constantly "selling" yourself to get new jobs (sadly true).

    • It is all up to you, if you fail it is nobody's fault but your own. No one's going to help you. (Hmmm....)


    Given those messages it's not going to be surprising if many just give up. The teenager who says "there's no point me trying anything, I'm just useless" is far too depressingly common in the UK, and incredibly hard to break through. Some of the messages above will only serve to reinforce this idea in their heads. 


    There's not much we - the engineering profession - can do about the middle point above, although we can offer far more in, for example, independent advice on CV writing and interview skills, and indeed general career development skills.


    The first and last we definitely need to help more with. The great thing about engineering, compared to any other profession, is that there are so many routes into it, and we need to be shouting about this far more. And for the last one, I believe that the "Professional Home For Life" should be about far more than just getting more professional registrants, it should be genuinely supporting "engineers" from their schooldays through to retirement. We have a huge network of potential mentors to help people through tough times and tough decisions, if only we can effectively put them in touch with those who need them.


    Having been brought up in pretty rough north London schools in the '60s and '70s I don't believe that children today are any lazier than they ever were. (The main goals for most at my secondary school were "bunking off" at any opportunity and then finding a job where "you could sit on your a*** all day". In fact I doubt this attitude has ever changed throughout the whole history of human society.) But children today are in a far more stressful situation than we were. I'm impressed that so many are as proactive as they are.


    Andy
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