Constructaquote.com outlines what lies ahead for employees of Clugston Group after the contractor filed for administration
Scunthorpe-based Clugston Group announced 150 job losses from its construction operations following a £420,000 loss last year after rumours of debts up to £40m.
Former employees now face the question of what next? One potential new route could be to go self-employed. With a range of skilled tradespeople on construction sites such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, these trade professionals could potentially be raking it in if post-Brexit reports are to be believed that skilled labour will be in short supply if Britain leaves the EU.
Lyndon Wood, CEO, Constructaquote.com, said: “This is a very difficult time for staff that have recently been made redundant from Clugston Group. If there is a positive to be taken out of this it is probably that these highly-skilled tradespeople now have the opportunity to become self-employed and further increase their earnings.
“Recent reports state that post-Brexit Britain could see a slumber in the skilled labour force – highly-skilled tradespeople such as Clugston Group employees now have the potential to fill that gap.”
Freelance workers earnings
According to the Office of National Statistics, the average annual salary of an electrician in the UK is £30,765 per year, a plumber earns £29,136, and a carpenter earns around £25,729.
According to figures released by Hudson Contract, earnings for self-employed electricians increased by 5.8% in October to hit the highest level on record.
With the low costs of starting a business from home, these highly-skilled workers may, in the long-term at least, benefit from this unforeseeable opportunity to take their careers to the next, more profitable, level.
CECA response
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) is also offering support to try to place Clugston Group workers with new employers.
CECA will use its wider regional networks to seek employment for those working for Clugston across the rest of the country.
CECA Yorkshire & the Humber director Mark Roper, said: “It is a sad day for the region to see the failure of this well-known firm.
“In the run-up to Christmas we want to do everything that we can to help those affected find new employment, hopefully with companies in their area.”
If you are an affected worker, or an employer looking to recruit, email clugstonemployees@ceca-yorks.co.uk.
