Vox pop

There’s better times ahead — what are your hopes and fears for the coming months?

Nick Charlton MD, Davis Builders

My main fear for the

coming year is the return of terrible subcontractors.

The recession helped eradicate some of the worst companies that weren’t run very well, but as the economy improves there’s a danger they will return to the market, which is bad news for quality, and the end purchaser and client. Finding tradesmen is going to be an issue in the near term because everyone is so busy, which means longer lead in times to notify trades when they are needed on a job. As a result we expect costs to increase.

The recession has taken a lot of

talent out of the industry, I’m already in desperate need of site managers. As a small contractor, the worry is that as things improve managers will want to move up the chain to larger contractors that can pay more. Many companies have failed to invest

in apprenticeships over past three-to- fi ve years, which will mean taking people on who don’t have as much knowledge, then fi ghting an uphill battle to get them trained up fast enough.

Philip Hall

Managing director, Hall Construction

My concern is the potential increase in

material costs and labour rates when demand really picks up. Over the last four or fi ve months labour rates at recruitment agencies have crept up in line with demand by about 3-5%, which isn’t signifi cant but if things really start

More technicians needed Kuno Genoni, via website Most defects, liabilities and failures are a result of a combination of mistakes, which lead to accidents (“Domestic builders: Licensed to skill up the industry”, 4 July 2013).

It is so important to have both

experienced and competent trades — engineers and those who are scientifi cally aware, to mitigate accidents during and post construction. Who, these days, really appreciates that quality standards are written in

moving those that have cut their rates over the past fi ve years will be looking to regain fi nancial ground.

Rates for insulation products are also a worry as they have been increasing despite the recession as a result of environmental requirements on projects. Suppliers know they have something of a monopoly and can charge what they want.

Hameed Ahmed ICIOB CEO, Zack Alexander Developments

The government’s intervention in mortgage

lending is creating an artifi cial spike in workloads, which I and many of my colleagues believe is creating another housing bubble just waiting to burst. As a small builder that is experiencing a huge rise in orders, I’m hoping the government can wind the scheme down gradually within two years to create a stable environment rather than suddenly stopping it and leaving us all in the lurch.

Maintaining a qualifi ed workforce is a major challenge in the coming years. We have taken on four apprentices and are planning to take on four more. Just to train them up to a level where they are functional on site is taking a long time, which has slowed down the pace of

projects. A major problem is that technical colleges don’t include enough practical on site experience as part of courses.

Chris Kane Director, Greendale Construction Things are defi nitely looking upbeat, we have already secured enough business to match last year’s turnover (our fi scal year

codes and EN/BS or Agrément Certifi cations purely to give assurance both during the design and construction process as well as for the end result and long-term user’s safety? This is why it is so important to have

well trained people, who know the extent of their own knowledge, yet are supervised by those who are able to take a holistic approach, and advise. If you take a look at the Scandinavian

approach, their operatives are invariably called “technicians” and proud of their skill and craft, as well as being respected,

“With an increase in the volume of projects being undertaken, there is a fear that the industry is facing a skills gap and a materials shortage.”

Andy Tooley, 8Build

starts in August), even if we don’t secure any more work. The type of work is also very varied, including a £4m church on Poole High Street, work on various schools and a new cardiology unit for the NHS. People have been warning that

increasing demand will result in capacity problems for construction fi rms in terms of staff, materials and other resources, but it’s a question of planning in advance and managing your resources early.

Andy Tooley Director, 8Build

With an increase in the volume of projects being undertaken, together with

“mega-projects” such as Crossrail in progress, there is a fear that the industry is facing a skills gap and a materials shortage. Supply will not

meet demand and so the costs of resource will increase.

Another fear is that where long-term

projects were secured during the downturn, there is a possibility that the supply chain will not be able to deliver on tendered prices, as the cost of labour and materials may increase. These factors could place an added burden on an already pressured supply chain and prolong the anticipated recovery of the industry as a whole.

Contact us Do you have an opinion on any of this month’s articles? Email: construction- manager@atom publishing.co.uk

and they deliver a high quality of work. Unfortunately, in more hierarchical-based societies, old by tradition and status based, problems of excellence in quality standards are much harder to achieve. This is why both technologist and engineer should also have a trades-based experience and not just an academic one, and tradesmen/technicians should be encouraged to undergo continual development. Do not license, and it will cost; do it and

it will cost less and the benefi ts will be greater in the long-term.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | OCTOBER 2013 | 9

Photograph: Manoftaste.de