UK faces shortage in building supplies
Posted by: electime 7th June 2021
Further to the news that building supplies are facing a shortage, Access Training UK and Rated People has commented:
Jamie Jefferies, CEO at Access Training UK comments:
“Construction and manual trade were some of the UK’s strongest sectors during the pandemic. Therefore, it is no surprise to see those in the trade industry have decided to ‘pandemic-proof’ their careers further by broadening their portfolio to help boost their business and income. At Access Training UK, there has been a 19% year-on-year surge in tradespeople opting to upskill in their chosen trade with courses such as:
- Eco electrical course – including electrical vehicle charging point installation
- Essential Electrical course
- ACS Gas initial Assessment
- Bathroom & Kitchen fitting course
As demand for reliable, qualified and passionate tradespeople continues to soar,it is positive to see the government supporting the industry with the recent announcement of the ‘lifetime skills guarantee.’ However, more needs to be done to support trainees who are just starting out as they are unable to qualify for the loan until they reach a level three qualification. Additionally, a shortage of building supplies and rising costs is impacting the ability for tradespeople to carry out works. It is vital that not only the industry, but the government, support trainees from the ground-up to encourage and aid those hoping to join the profession in today’s competitive market.”
Adrienne Minster, CEO of Rated People, comments:
“It’s fantastic to see so many homeowners transforming their homes and gardens this year. However, in some instances consumers might find that work starts later than planned due to high demand causing a shortage in building materials. Quotes from tradespeople may also be a bit higher than normal as several materials like cement and timber are costing more to buy. Trades businesses are working hard to secure supplies but consumers can benefit from planning improvements ahead of time and being flexible with dates where possible. While lots of urgent and more timely work is still being done, we’re seeing a 50% rise in customers planning work for 2+ months’ time.”*
*Internal Rated People jobs data comparing the start and end of May 2021 (1st– 7th May and 25th-31st May).
