NG Bailey's Mark Andrews: Rant

One of the most frustrating challenges facing the construction industry is the lack of talented people, due to their lack of knowledge of working in the sector. This demonstrates that not enough is being done by employers to work more closely with universities and apprenticeship networks.

Through forming close relationships with these networks we can properly inform individuals about the range of career options available to them and tailor courses to ensure that graduates and apprentices are ready to enter the world of work.

Output in UK construction is forecast to average more than 3% growth annually between now and the 2012 Olympics, generating a demand for about 90,000 recruits a year. However, despite this opportunity, the industry struggles to find sufficient people able to cope with the complexity and scope of today's construction projects.

So, with few students enrolling on construction-related courses, why are they not steered down the route of an apprenticeship? I suggest that it's because apprenticeships are often not seen as an opportunity, rather a second-tier degree with not as much credibility - a perception that needs to be changed if we are to remain competitive globally.

Apprenticeships are practical for both employers and individuals, but we are not accessing them enough. Few teachers have engineering degrees or experience of working in the construction industry. So as an industry, we need to get into schools and talk to students. We must make them aware that we can offer them exciting careers that pay well. It is also important that we enlighten teachers, parents and careers advisers so they can adequately explain the opportunities available to potential graduates and apprentices.

We work with secondary schools and students as young as 11. We also champion the training of the industry's future workforce, through our Bailey Engineering Academy, and employ 100 apprentices each year.

So, the responsibility lies not just with the education system to educate young people on the opportunities available for individuals in this sector, but also with organisations, to offer first-class apprenticeship programmes.

Clear information about setting up and funding an apprenticeship is available from organisations, including The Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network and the Learning and Skills Council. Let's stop moaning and engage with the system, after all the future competitiveness of this country depends on us doing so.