The construction
sector has come together with one voice to warn the Government of the dangers
of the industry facing a ‘cliff edge’ regarding access to EU workers.
In an unprecedented
show of unity, seven of the construction industry’s major trade bodies have set
out what they believe to be the sector’s responsibilities and requirements in a
post-Brexit labour market.
The ‘Construction
Industry Brexit Manifesto’ commits the sector to doing much more to recruit
and train additional UK workers to reduce its future reliance on migrant
labour. However, it makes clear that this will not be able to happen overnight
and that, for some time, there will likely remain an ongoing need for
significant levels of skilled EU workers.
The document sets down
the industry’s key messages to the Government on what it will need from a
post-Brexit immigration system in order to be able to deliver the Government’s
strategic objectives for new housing and infrastructure:
• The Government
should agree a transition period of at least two years as soon as possible,
during which time EU workers arriving in the UK should continue to have a path
to settled status
• The
post-transitional migration system should be based on key occupations that are
in short supply, rather than on arbitrary thresholds based on skill levels or
income.
The Manifesto comes
with the support of seven major construction trade bodies: Federation of Master
Builders, Association for Consultancy & Engineering, Build UK, Civil
Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Products Association, Home
Builders Federation, and National Federation of Builders
Brian Berry, Chief
Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “The construction
industry has been criticised in the past for being too disparate but it has
come together here with one voice and set of clear messages. We know we need to
step up as an industry and train more home-grown talent but we also have to be
realistic about the future. There will continue to be some ongoing need for
migrant workers and our post-Brexit migration rules will need to be fit for
purpose.”
Dr Nelson Ogunshakin
OBE, CEO of the Association for Consultancy & Engineering, said: “Without
the skills that many EU nationals bring to the industry, we could be facing
severe setbacks to the UK’s national infrastructure pipeline. ACE’s own surveys
show that there is an increase in the number EU staff leaving the UK for jobs
on the continent and this will only get worse if we do not bring certainty to
EU workers’ residency rights. This Manifesto provides a road map for both
Government and industry to ensure that the UK can continue to access world
class talent to deliver world class construction.”
Suzannah Nichol MBE,
Chief Executive of Build UK, said: “Construction, like other major industry
sectors, has substantial concerns over the impact of Brexit on its ability to
recruit, train and retain talent. It is essential that industry works together to
present the need for an effective partnership between Government and industry,
enabling us to deliver the UK's infrastructure, homes and communities."
Marie-Claude Hemming,
Director of External Affairs at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association,
said: “The UK’s decision to leave the EU will have a notable impact upon the
ability of the infrastructure sector to source the skills needed for current
and future projects. But if we are to ensure that the UK remains an attractive
place to live and work in a post Brexit world, Government must maintain its
focus on construction and infrastructure. To this end industry has joined
together to publish a skills manifesto which we believe will enable our sector
to continue to drive future economic growth. It is vital that industry and
Government work together to ensure the UK’s global competitiveness is not
impacted upon by delay in the delivery of world-class construction projects.”
Prof. Noble Francis,
Economics Director at the Construction Products Association, said: “Access to
the right skills will be absolutely critical for the whole construction supply
chain in the next few years if it is to help Government achieve its aims of building
more affordable housing and improving the UK’s infrastructure, which will be
vital for boosting UK productivity.”
John Slaughter,
Director of External Affairs at the Home Builders Federation, said: “With the
Budget having confirmed a target to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the
mid-2020s, home builders will need to continue to bring more skilled people
into the industry. Companies are building on their existing investment through
the successful work of the CITB-supported Home Building Skills Partnership and
are committed to doing even more, but to deliver the national social and
economic necessity of an improved housing supply we will also continue to need
access to foreign workers under a manageable migration system.”
Richard Beresford,
Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders, said: “With the country
facing a shortage of skilled workers and the most acute housing crisis in
living memory, the Government needs to provide certainty to existing EU workers
in the UK and enable construction SMEs to attract more home-grown talent into
the industry.”
