Opinion

Brexit to pose key skills challenges for the industry

With the results of the EU referendum, Natasha Levanti looks at the challenges facing industry skills.

Undeniably, there are more questions than answers with the current state of the UK following the EU referendum result. But one thing is certain, circumstances for all UK industries will be changing, placing even greater emphasis on the need for businesses to be aware of and adapt with the times.

Skills have been a key business need prior to the EU referendum, with the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) released in the 2015 Employer Skills Survey finding that a quarter of all vacancies are left unfilled due to not finding individuals with relevant skills or knowledge. Given the results of the referendum, ensuring a pipeline of skills now has an additional level of complexity. 

After Article 50 is invoked there will be approximately two years of current employment conditions, representing an opportunity for those involved in human resources to become aware of the challenges ahead and potential solutions. 

ACE, in partnership with affiliate Pennington Manches, will be taking a hard look at the implications of Brexit and other challenges of running a modern business at a luncheon seminar on 11 October.

The conditions and circumstances under which EU citizens can work in the UK, visa impacts on non-EU staff as well as UK citizens working in the EU will be a key part of the negotiations for not only withdrawal but also the future UK relationship with the EU.

Any construction or infrastructure related businesses will need to keep alert of discussions and changes to labour conditions going forward, not just due to the construction industry’s reliance on European workers but also due to legislative gaps that may accompany withdrawal. Dependent upon the relationship that is developed between the UK and the EU post withdrawal, there may be changes in working time, agency workers, TUPE, collective redundancy consultation, family friendly measures as well as other employment factors. 

When looking at the skills shortage, the need for labour within particular industries and the newfound complexities for the skills pipeline in two to three years’ time, there are three key points for businesses to bear in mind.

First, businesses must stay aware of the changing situations, and the various employment factors that may change. Alongside this, businesses must assure current staff that the business is aware of the ongoing situation and as permissions will remain the same for more than two years, there is no need for immediate changes in working conditions. 

Second, businesses must start engaging in fostering skills. Research from the UKCES has shown that not enough UK young people have the skills expected by employers. As such, employers must take part in student outreach, work experiences, internships, apprenticeships or other initiatives that marry practical experiences with more academic skills. It is only through increased employer engagement in developing skills that employers ensure that in future years there will be qualified staff to meet business needs, and for our industry understanding the apprenticeship levy is vital for this.

Third, businesses will be impacted by many, if not all, of the decisions ahead for those negotiating UK withdrawal as well as the subsequent form of agreement between the UK and EU. As such, businesses must make sure their voice is heard, identifying challenges, best practices, and industry solutions. Often such advocacy work is done through trade associations, gathering similar businesses together to ensure that the key messages are heard and accommodated. 

Wendy Lasebikan, director of HR at ACE, said: "Everyone in the industry has a role to play in order to ensure global competitiveness. With this in mind, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering will continue to inform the industry and advocate for concerns within the post-referendum landscape and subsequently the post-European Union, United Kingdom."

At the lunchtime event on 11 October ACE in partnership with Pennington Manches will cover topics such as the Brexit, the apprenticeship levy, modern slavery, new sentencing guidelines and other topics that will impact how modern businesses can be run in the future.

Click here for more information on the event or to register.

Comments

Brexit will concentrate the minds of the construction industry and the education and training providers. Planning now to increase the volume of education and training as well as actively encouraging school leavers to become attracted to construction will help enormously. In particular, I have been banging on about the total lack of specific education for estimators, throughout this century. Their role has changed and become more demanding. To date no-one has listened. I have offered years of research to Professional bodies and Universities, talked to the CIC and the CITB and been met with vacant looks. That's just Estimators; I wonder how other roles are faring? There is now a focal point for the industry with The Construction Leadership Council. When they were contacted they informed me very confidently that there were now Apprenticeships for Estimators; there aren't. Will anyone in this industry ever get their act together? jim.hackett@btinternet.com tel. 07974208214