The Construction sector, by far the biggest industry sector in the UK, is growing 17% each year. Not only will new projects such as new transport links emanate from the 2012 London Olympics, but Government departments have also set aside over £76bn over the coming years for housing, schools and hospitals.
Amidst this growth, a severe skills crisis exists. Across the board, an estimated 87,600 trades people - plumbers, plasterers, painters, decorators and others - are needed every year for the foreseeable future, according to the Construction Skills Council.
In this climate, companies in the sector are finding it extremely difficult to recruit and retain staff. So what are they doing about it?
Some of the more forward-thinking ones have set up their own recruitment academies, and some are even poaching staff with generic skills from other sectors. What is certain, however, is that all are looking for innovative ways to retain the staff they have.
One factor cited time and time again by employees as motivating them to stay with one employer over another is training. The best employees want control of their own career plans, and to be able to get the best Learning and Development available. Construction sector companies have always had a regulatory and contractual need to manage staff skills, but now Learning and Development, has suddenly become a boardroom issue.
Over the last few years, Learning and Development specialists Imajica have worked closely with a number of leading Construction sector companies to deliver customised Learning and Development systems which retain employees by motivating them, empowering them to manage their own learning, showing them how their personal learning contributes to company performance, and indicating where Learning and Development can take their career.
To find out how My Learning Directory™ could help your Construction business, please Contact Us now.
