The Midlands Construction Summit (MCS) is set to return to the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, on the 27 September 2016. The Summit will be exploring ways to address issues that negatively impact on the future of the UK construction industry, whilst focusing on three intrinsically linked key themes: Skills, Image and Productivity.
The MCS will be tackling these key themes and highlighting how the industry can approach and resolve these pressing problems through the experience and learnings from the prominent speaker line-up.
By facilitating knowledge exchange and networking with influential regional construction leaders, the Summit provides a platform to strengthen improvements throughout the industry, whilst also creating an opportunity to acquire crucial information from industry experts on how they have overcome key issues, through process, product innovation and enhancing perceptions.
The skills shortage is still a pressing industry concern which has also been further amplified through the recent Brexit vote. A recent survey, conducted by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’, found that the private commercial, industrial and housing sectors have seen the most significant slowdown within the construction industry and indicated that the skills shortage is a contributing factor. The survey highlighted that more than half of the respondents said the lack of appropriately skilled labour, particularly bricklayers and quantity surveyors, was holding back building projects.
It has been much reported in the media that the effects of the Brexit could also have a knock on effect to the slowing industry due to the skills shortage within the industry citing that, ‘the uncertainty churned up by Brexit may also see some new build shelved as developers worry about profits. Particularly if the industry’s skill shortage is exacerbated by much-needed EU construction workers going home.’
However, in a 2015 report, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) said one of the solutions to the skills problem is a long-term programme of training young British people to work in the construction industry. Government initiatives such as the Midlands Engine are examples of how early engagement with young people in college and university by bringing education establishments and business together can deliver the exact skills that the industry requires and therefore fulfilling the gap in skills.
Andy Robinson, MD of Colmore Tang, and speaker at the MCS, stated that in order to attract a more diverse work force to the industry and address the skills shortage, an aspirational leader was needed. “We need a major aspirational leader of the industry who will engage young people and get them excited about joining the industry. We need to increase the overall level of education both technically and generally, amongst the skilled and non-skilled trades.”
The Summit will deliver insight on how to future proof construction businesses from the issues surrounding Skills, Image and Productivity. These three themes are all intrinsically linked and have a domino effect. A poor image of the industry creates a skills shortage as the young and upcoming generation are seeking more appealing career prospects. Skills shortages add to poor productivity as the industry lacks the workers and resources to keep up with demand.
Entry into the Midlands Construction Summit costs just £95 plus vat and includes; parking, lunch and refreshments throughout.
