Construction Firms Not Training Enough Staff

In a recent survey of 79,000 employers The Learning Skills Council has suggested that a third of construction firms fail to train staff, which is leading to more unfilled vacancies than any other industry.

Research also showed that 42% of almost 4,000 businesses using the LSC's Train to Gain Service have realised bottom-line benefits. These include higher productivity, increased profit margins, improved product and service quality, as well as improvements to staff loyalty and retention. Nearly three quarters (74%) of employers engaged in Train to Gain reported staff had improved their skills and ability to do their job thanks to the training. In addition, 30% of employees had been promoted as a result of the training. The figures were released as part of a drive to encourage employers to use the government’s flagship training service Train to Gain.

LSC director of skills for employers Paul Holme said: “Our latest research shows that Train to Gain is helping to unlock staff potential through recommending and delivering job-specific training.” I urge more organisations to follow suit and get involved and see the benefits of investing in training for the long term.”

The government has announced it will allocate more than £300m to the UK construction, hospitality and processing and manufacturing sectors to enable employers to improve the qualifications and skills of their workforces.

Skills gaps are further being plugged via the government's apprenticeships programme which employers can also access through Train to Gain. Training providers and colleges can also give employers skills and funding advice for their business