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Monday 24 October 2016

Brexit: and the construction industry in the West Country

There were fears that the construction industry was in for a rough time after the referendum:
Futures Forum: Brexit: and the future of infrastructure projects in the South-West
Futures Forum: Brexit: and scaling back: "businesses will hold off committing to major capital expenditure for a long time to come"

Especially in the housing sector:
Futures Forum: Brexit: and house prices: "Housing market cools in first post-Brexit official figures, but prices are still soaring"
Futures Forum: Brexit: and Devon has the largest fall in house prices
Futures Forum: Brexit: and housebuilders in East Devon: part two

However, Plymouth seems to be doing very well - but - but there is the nation-wide shortage of construction workers and professionals:
"Brexit could worsen construction skills crisis" | Tyne Tees - ITV News

Although this was a problem well before the referendum:
Building projects under threat from shortage of construction workers - Telegraph
UK needs plumbers, builders and engineers as skill crisis hits economy | Business | The Guardian

Builders fear post-Brexit skills shortage

Infrastructure and housebuilding projects could be at risk if UK restricts EU migrants

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 

Big infrastructure and housebuilding projects will be at risk if skilled builders from the EU are not allowed to remain in the country after Brexit, groups from across the construction industry have warned. 

More than 100,000 construction workers from elsewhere in the EU were working in the UK in 2014, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, as part of a 2.1m-strong construction workforce.

Builders fear post-Brexit skills shortage

It's becoming a real problem for the 'Building Plymouth' project underway:

Plymouth building boom at risk from shortage of workers

October 18, 2016 By WILLIAM TELFORD, Business Editor, @WTelfordHerald

Plymouth's construction boom is at risk if the industry cannot recruit enough workers, a major summit has heard.

More than 100 leading names from the construction and education sectors met in Plymouth and were told more needs to be done to fill job vacancies. They heard posts are unfilled across the industry – and it is worst in the professions.


About 60 per cent of all job vacancies are for professional posts such as quantity surveyors, estimators and site managers. 


With the city undergoing its largest growth spurt since its post-World War Two rebuild there are fears the building boom could be curtailed.

Plymouth building boom at risk from shortage of workers | Plymouth Herald

Immediately after the referendum, the industry was clear about what it wanted:
Construction industry says 'keep the Polish workers coming' | Plymouth Herald

The problem is the lack of 'home-grown' skills:

Why are Plymouth kids shunning careers in construction?

By WT_Herald | Posted: September 09, 2016

Plymouth's building surge is expected to increase for at least another four years but could be hit by a lack of skilled workers, a conference has heard. Key employers working on some of the biggest and most ambitious projects in the city are concerned there are not enough staff with the right qualifications to support the burgeoning sector.

They say there is a particular dearth in the professions associated with getting projects to the actual build stage: such as architects, designers, planners, surveyors and project managers.

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