MAIN FEATURE
options, wage increases and investment. It wants to see employers make long-term investments in the UK domestic workforce instead of relying on labour from abroad. In the lead up to Brexit, the Government encouraged employers to offer apprenticeships, maximise the value of the apprentice levy, provide traineeships and trainees, look to recruit graduates, to have an inclusive approach to attract more diverse talent and offer upskilling and retaining opportunities to retain a professional workforce as a means to bridge the skills gap. Unfortunately, there has been insufficient time for this to be achieved and there is a need for Government to show greater flexibility in temporarily relaxing immigration restrictions to allow key trade shortages to be addressed to enable a strong economic recovery to post the Covid pandemic.
Much of the work undertaken within the water and wastewater sectors goes unseen until a problem occurs and so there is a need for employers within the sectors to raise the sector profiles particularly within schools, colleges and universities. The industry needs to emphasise the varied and interesting nature of the opportunities and careers that are available. Additionally, there is a need to demonstrate the attractiveness of the sectors to inspire and attract new talent within a highly competitive recruitment environment.
As a whole, the companies that deliver water 6
and wastewater services within the UK are to be commended for keeping these vital services running over the past 18 months through what has been the most challenging circumstances the sectors have ever experienced. Recovery from the Covid pandemic will remain difficult and with the further labour and material supply issues that Brexit brings it could take at least 2 years for the sectors to fully recover. Government and regulators have an important part to play in this and there is a need to look at incentives and funding for both sectors to assist in meeting the skills shortage to allow the significant future objectives to be achieved. Companies involved in the sector need to look at innovative approaches to attract new talent into the sectors and grasp new technology to become more efficient. There is a need for companies to use data and artificial intelligence to reduce the reliance on workers and to move quickly from a reactive to more proactive preventive works programmes.
PIG as a professional trade association has an important role to play in projecting its members needs by helping to raise the profile of the pipeline industry which includes the water and wastewater sectors. The organisation is working with its members to deliver STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning for school children to give them a basic understanding of the sectors and the career opportunities that are available. It has
| October 2021 |
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established academic affiliations with colleges and universities to provide them with connections with industry to allow visibility of the range of career prospects that are available. The Guild has a vibrant Professional Development Network which provides new entrants into the pipeline industry an opportunity to increase knowledge, develop a network of contacts and gain mentoring from experienced professionals. The Guild also has an extensive programme of both technical and business skills events such as seminars, conferences, workshops and webinars which provide continuing professional development to enhance all members abilities and careers.
PIG looks to be at the forefront of innovation and provide a platform for its members to gain an understanding of changes in new technology, systems and processes that are being introduced. It also looks to engage with Government and regulators to influence legislation, assist in the development of industry standards and practices for the benefit of all companies working within the pipeline industry.
PIG’s aim is to represent and provide assistance to the pipeline industry particularly as it navigates the twin challenges of Brexit and the Global Pandemic.
Further to this the National Association of Drainage Contractors (NADC) gave a similarly interesting response. Taking the above
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