The UK is facing the prospect of missing housing, infrastructure and Net Zero targets because of a skills shortage. There is a serious concern about the workforce. As a top provider of sash window restoration in Northumberland and other parts of the North East, we know how important skilled workers are. We want to have a closer look here so we can explore the issue. Remember, if you need help with sashes, you can rely on us.
The problem
According to property company Places for People, the UK currently has over 140,000 vacancies in the construction industry. This includes an array of different roles, such as bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and joiners.
The issue could get much worse in the future too. Crucially, the construction industry has an ageing workforce. The estimate is as many as 750,000 workers will retire in the next decade. With high demand for new builds, renovations and retrofitting, the forecast is the UK actually needs almost a million new workers.
Brexit and Covid also made the skills shortage worse. We’ve got a gap of over 200,000 construction workers from the EU. Some chose to leave the UK, and it’s also become more difficult to recruit Europeans. Plus, training schemes, apprenticeships, and education in general was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The fix
It’s not an easy fix at all for the skills shortage. There is a lot to think about and several challenges to tackle. At David Humble, we rely on traditional joinery and carpentry skills to provide sash window restoration in Northumberland and other areas. So, we know how important they are. Without them, construction, renovation, and preserving heritage assets is much harder.
One of the key things to do is get more people into careers in the construction industry. Crucial here is to provide more apprenticeships and training courses in all kinds of disciplines. The estimate is we need 240,000 new apprentices alone in the next ten years. Additionally, it is important to make sure they complete their training and progress into work.
Another urgent thing that needs addressing is diversity and inclusion. The construction industry has a reputation as being one of the least diverse. This has a big impact on the pool of talent. So, change is necessary to improve things.
Finally, there are regional issues to address. London is by far the biggest market; along with the South East it is home to almost a third of all construction businesses. However, it struggles to attract enough people into apprenticeships. While other regions have fewer companies, they have more prospective apprentices.
Using outstanding skills to offer sash window restoration in Northumberland
Retaining beautiful timber sash windows is our main goal at David Humble. We want to save these important architectural features. They are often a valuable piece of an area’s character and history. Therefore, it is a real shame if we lose them.
To save the windows, we utilise a range of traditional skills, including joinery and carpentry. Crucially, we can repair joints and timber, replace chords, fix problems with glass, seal windows, paint, and more. Whether you need a simple repair or a full refurb, we can restore them to their best.
So, get in touch today if you want to arrange sash window restoration in Northumberland or other local areas. We’re happy to come out, view your windows, and provide a quote.