FIS and nine other leading trade and professional bodies have come together to understand what skills are in greatest demand as the UK prepares its exit from the EU.

The survey, which will go out to more than 20,000 companies across the UK construction sector, will ask respondents to indicate which roles they are finding it difficult to recruit now and which they expect to be challenging post-Brexit.

The survey is supported by the following industry groups.

  • Association for Consultancy & Engineering
  • Build UK and member trade bodies
  • Chartered Institute of Building
  • Civil Engineering Contractors Association
  • Construction Plant-hire Association
  • Construction Products Association and member trade bodies
  • Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)
  • Federation of Master Builders
  • Highways Term Maintenance Association
  • National Federation of Builders

Companies that are not part of the above organisations are also invited to contribute to the research to ensure that the survey has as wide reach as possible. Evidence uncovered from the survey will be used to identify where the industry should be focussing its efforts to recruit new workers.

It will also be used to engage with the government and Migration Advisory Committee to support decision-making on appropriate migration for workers from the EU and rest of the world.

Mark Reynolds, Mace chief executive and skills lead for the Construction Leadership Council, said: “We know that our sector will need to recruit hundreds of thousands of new workers over the coming years. We want to ensure that this recruitment is supported with targeted actions by industry and government. The first step in achieving this is the development of a detailed picture of those occupations where we face the biggest challenge. I welcome the fact that the industry is unifying to develop this research and encourage all companies from across the industry to take part in the survey.”

Hannah Vickers, chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, said: “With all the uncertainty around Brexit and its impact on skills, we need to make sure that our industry has a sound evidence base from which to argue, which is why I will be asking all our members to participate in the survey. We will need to come together in one voice and collectively make the case for construction to government, ensuring that any post-Brexit agreement secures the skills our sector needs now and into the future.”

Iain McIlwee, FIS chief executive said: “FIS is running one of the most ambitious skills programmes in construction, but we can’t do it alone, it is vital that the industry as a whole unites to focus on the skills we need now and for the future of the construction sector”.

Click here to take part in the industry skills shortages survey.