YOUNGSTERS URGED TO CONSIDER CAREER IN BRICKLAYING TO ADDRESS NATIONAL SHORTAGE
SAVILLS NOTCHES NINTH YEAR AS NO.1 REAL ESTATE
From leſt, Richard Margetson, Jordan Boyle, Chris Francis, Nicky Margetson, Mike Boyle, Brodie Boyle, Jamie King.
More young people should be encouraged to take up trades like bricklaying to help address the national shortage, according to a leading housebuilder. Persimmon Homes West Wales currently has 163 brickies working at its sites across the region - but that number needs to increase to around 200 to meet demand. Persimmon’s direct labour bricklayers work solely for the company. Tey are paid based on productivity and can earn in excess of £1,100 a week – more than an average Welsh GP. Despite advertising for new bricklayers to join the team and average pay being three-times higher than the Wales national average, a skills shortage means management at Persimmon are struggling to find the right people. Nicky Margetson, brickwork manager at Persimmon West Wales, said: “Te construction industry is booming. Persimmon Homes West Wales is currently building around 600 houses a year and we need to get more bricklayers on board to keep up with that demand. “Te youngsters just aren’t coming through. Tey can do a two-year college course and then earn excellent money, but I don’t think schools are talking to youngsters about construction as being an option. Persimmon are trying to address this partnering with the NPTC Group, one of the largest Further Education providers in Wales, to take on students straight from college. “Years ago bricklaying was something which was taught in schools but now that’s long gone. Tere’s too much of a focus on university. I have friends who have got 11 GCSEs, who have been university and now work in bakeries. “Te attitude has got to change. It’s construction which keeps the economy going and we need more houses.” Nicky, 29 and from Neath, worked on site as a bricklayer before being offered the job as brickwork manager when Persimmon switched to direct labour almost five years ago. Direct labour is beneficial for Persimmon as it gives the builder greater control over the quality of men they are
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using and is more cost effective. It is good news for the brickies, too, as it gives them a steady stream of work, moving straight onto a new building site as soon as construction has finished on another. Mike Boyle has been in the industry for 35 years having started out as a bricklayer at 14. He is currently the leader of a six-strong gang working at Persimmon’s Emily Fields site in Swansea along with his two sons, Jordan and Brodie. “Tings have changed massively in my time in the industry,” he said. “Health and safety didn’t exist when I started out. If you fell you were on your own. “Tere was no such thing as forkliſts. Everything had to be done by hand. “During the recession a few years back things were terrible. Te money was poor and work was hard to come by. “Now though things have really turned around. Working as direct labour for Persimmon is great because you have that continuity of work and there’s real camaraderie between the workforce. “I think youngsters have lost their drive. Tey are too busy messing about on their Xbox to get out and do some proper work.” Richard Margetson, aged 34, said: “Bricklaying is an excellent career. We can create a masterpiece out of a bucket. It’s great to build something which will be there for 100 years.” Jordan Boyle added: “I’m really pleased to be a bricklayer. I really don’t know what I’d be doing if Dad hadn’t introduced me to the trade.” Qualifications in bricklaying can be achieved with CITB. Anyone interested in bricklaying for Persimmon can contact Nicky on
nicky.margetson@
persimmonhomes.com Persimmon Homes West Wales is currently building new homes in Swansea, Neath, Pontarddulais, Llanelli, Cross Hands, Carmarthen, Pembroke and Milford Haven. Visit
www.persimmonhomes.com for more information.
SUPERBRAND International real estate advisor Savills has secured its place at the top of the real estate agents / advisors category league table in the 2017 UK Business Superbrand list for the ninth consecutive year. The UK Business Superbrands survey was independently managed by The Centre for Brand Analysis (TCBA) and questioned 2,500 individual business professionals from across the UK, as well as the independent and voluntary Business Superbrands Council. The two audiences judged nearly 1,500 brands, which they assessed on three key criteria: quality, reliability and distinction, whilst also considering the definition of a Superbrand: ‘A Superbrand has established the finest reputation in its field. It offers customers significant emotional and/or tangible advantages over its competitors, which customers want and recognise.’ Chris Potts, head of the Cardiff office at Savills, comments: “It is a fantastic achievement to receive the accolade of top UK real estate Superbrand. In Cardiff we continue to expand our services recognising the Savills brand provides confidence to our clients we will deliver high quality commercially informed advice which sets us apart from our competitors. This award is testament to the hard work our team put into creating long lasting client relationships.” Savills is a leading global real estate service provider listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company, established in 1855, has a rich heritage and over 700 offices and associates throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, employing over 30,000 people.
New Homes Wales and the South West
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