A new report from the government has recommended housebuilders be hit with a levy if they fail to tackle the skills shortage…
Failing to tackle the skills shortage could see fines levelled at housebuilders. Recommendations laid out in a new government report have called for levies to be imposed on housebuilders in the hope of reforming the industry.
The skills shortage is a major problem facing the construction sector, with major infrastructure projects in the pipeline in danger as shortages of bricklayers, carpenters and plasterers continue to mount. The government has heavily invested in apprenticeship schemes in a bid to ensure the next generation of skilled workers, however this may not be enough.
The review, which was written by Mark Farmer, said it is expected 20 to 25 per cent of the construction workforce will be lost over the next decade. Farmer warned the government’s apprenticeship policies would not achieve enough to ensure a skilled workforce is in place and said it needed to “modernise or die”.
The report recommended implementing a levy against developers using construction firms that fail to use “modern methods” of building.
British Property Federation’s director of real estate policy Ian Fletcher said this could be the push the industry needs to ensure its pool of skilled workers.
He said: “A carrot and stick approach, putting the onus on developers to work with contractors doing the right thing could be a “plastic bag tax moment” the property sector needs.
“Many BPF members already invest heavily in apprenticeships and CSR. But we recognise that more needs to be done and only radical change will get the outcomes we need.”
Industry Minister Jesse Norman said: “Given the launch of the £3 billion Home Building Fund, Mark Farmer’s important review in this vital sector is very timely.
“It makes a strong case for change in the industry, identifies areas where it needs to improve, and sets out areas for action. We will now carefully consider his recommendations.”
