NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Kenilworth, Warwickshire, United Kingdom, 09/23/2008 - The Construction Centre UK reported earlier this year that migrant building workers were returning to their homelands which would exacerbate the UK skills shortage.

Fresh reports released today by the Times indicate that the Olympic Delivery Authority and the London Development Agency will be investing up to £20 million on training people in order to meet the construction timescales for the 2012 Olympics.

The Construction Centre said that the issue of migrant workers returning home was only part of the problem. With reducing timescales and an industry possibly on the brink of recession, it was important to not only fix the problem in the short term but also look at the long term consequences and solutions to the skills shortage crisis. The investment will train British workers in skills which are most needed such as electrical work and alongside this a further 4000 people will be trained for specialist skills.

Part of the problem according to Kevin Marshall, Chairman of Summit Skills, has been that many of the migrant workers have been Polish who are notoriously hard working and dedicated employees. He said that although other nationalities are employed “They don’t seem to be as well trained or have the same work ethic as the Poles, that’s what employers are telling us. All the way along we have been arguing that we can’t rely on migrant labour. We have to put in plans for the long term.”

Richard Simmons, Managing Director at The Construction Centre said “The UK has relied on migrant workers to fill the skills shortages in the construction industry for far too long. There have been consistent reports about the lack of new trainees and young people entering the industry. Much more needs to be done, especially during the hard times if the industry is to keep its head above water. It will be a significant PR disaster if the 2012 Olympic village is not completed in time due to poor planning and foresight in the number of skilled workers available.

The Construction Centre UK (theconstructioncentre.co.uk) said that it would continue to highlight the issue and promote the construction industry to those who may be considering a career in building. The Construction Centre website has information on courses, training, current jobs and companies for anyone to research this arena.

Agency / Source: The Renewable Energy Centre UK

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