Apr 26 2004
The Construction Industry Council, as a partner in ConstructionSkills, has launched the results of its Built Environment Professional Services Skills Survey 2003/2004 at the Building Centre in London.
The report details the findings of the first major skills survey focused on the UK construction professional services sector and the key issues that firms face with respect to skills, competence, recruitment and training of the workforce. It provides benchmark information on the current situation and an indication of firms’ expectations and concerns regarding the key skills issues that they face in the future.
The survey was undertaken nationally between November 2003 and January 2004. 927 companies responded from a broad and representative cross section of the professional services sector. Collectively these employ over 43,000 full time members of staff and generate a fee income of over £2.4 billion.
Some of the key findings are:
- Almost half of respondents experienced problems with staff proficiency and skills gaps.
- Despite nearly three-quarters of the professional services workforce being qualified to HNC or above, survey respondents identified a range of skills and competence areas where capability was an issue.
- Architects, engineers and surveyors highlighted design development skills and competence issues.
- Surveyors highlighted construction and installation phase and team management skills/competence issues.
- Surveyors and planners highlighted strategic and policy monitoring and communication skills/competence issues.
- Planners and multi-disciplinary firms highlighted management skills issues.
- Two thirds of respondents have had difficulties recruiting staff with the necessary skills and experience in the last twelve months.
- 43% of respondents believed that the standard of new recruits to the sector had decreased over the past 5 years.
- An average of 5.39 training days were provided per annum per employee at an average expense of £643 per person.
Source: CIC