A new taskforce has been set up to work out how to get more contractors to take on apprentices. That’s easy. Send all the Eastern Europeans home.

I’m not suggesting that we should do that, but the point is: why would anyone shell out money to train a youngster, and tie up their best men to work with them, when they can hire a hard-working Pole?

People say when those Eastern Europeans go home we will be short of men. But there’s bound to be another wave of workers from another EU country. The industry didn’t collapse when all the Irish workers returned home because their economy started booming.

Personally I would like to see more young people coming into the industry. I think it’s a great job, and the tools are a great place to start. But should contractors really have to shell out to train up home-grown talent when there are more cost-efficient options?

The grants on offer don’t cover costs. Gordon Brown is apparently enthusiastic about apprenticeships. He should be putting his hand in his pocket and contributing more towards training up our own young people. Surely it’s better to have people who are earning and spending here rather than sending money home to another country?

Arguments about skills shortages and doing the right thing won’t persuade people. In an industry with margins like ours, it’s about cold hard cash. Let’s not kid ourselves otherwise.

Source

Construction Manager