Speedier construction, modern methods of construction and engaging with young people- these are all part of Actis’s counterstrategy to tackle the construction skills gap
A recent APM report suggesting a worsening of the skills gap in the construction industry highlights not only the need to encourage young people to consider a career in the profession – but also the need to embrace speedier construction methods to compensate for a smaller workforce, says insulation specialist Actis.
Its UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper was responding to the report, by the Association of Project Managers, which found that 30% of construction project managers believe the skills gap is ‘getting worse or not improving.’
He explained that his company is effectively operating a ‘pincer movement’ to address both ends of the skills gap dilemma.
Actis’s products enable speedier construction
“On the ‘speedier construction’ side, the speed and ease of installation of our Hybrid range and new Eolis HC are universally praised. The fact that they save many person hours – in some cases it can take half the time of using a solid alternative – means that ‘spare’ time can be spent doing other, more complex activities.
“And as the products have the beauty of being able to be installed by less experienced members of the construction team, this frees up the longer serving colleagues to carry out some of the more skilled tasks.
“We also work with many timber framers, and houses produced offsite can be built up to 30% more quickly than traditional brick and block, delivering much needed homes at a faster rate and using fewer man hours per unit.”
Engaging interest in construction with hands-on experience
Members of the Actis specification and sales team are approaching the other end of the skills gap funnel by going out and sharing the joy of working in construction with young people at school and college.
South East area sales director Steven Ellis found Bedfordshire middle school pupils very receptive to his tales of life in the trade when he took part in a ‘Careers Carousel’ recently.
Indeed, associate assistant head teacher at the school, Emma Ramsay, said the day was inspirational for the ten to 13-year-olds, who particularly enjoyed a competition to see who could make the tallest tower of Actis Hybris samples.
Actis northern regional sales director and Women in Construction ambassador Jemma Harris has spoken to students at a Construction Industry Training Board careers event and a school in Yorkshire, with the aim of inspiring young women to reject stereotypes and follow their dreams of a career in a male-dominated profession.
South-West area sales manager Tom Hendzel has helped out with lectures to construction trainees at Cornwall’s Truro and Penwith College.
And Northern regional specification manager Amaret Chahal, who has co-written some of the company’s CPD training material, recently spoke to students at Barnsley College about the joy of construction.
