The survey shows that the majority of firms are struggling to find skilled workers
The SNIPEF State of Trade report shows that not only is the skills of shortage reaching critical point, but funding and economic resilience are at a worrying low as well.
Three consecutive quarters have confirmed that 70% of plumbing and heating firms are reporting difficulty in recruiting skilled staff.
SNIPEF workforce survey shows just one-in-four planning to recruit apprentices
In spite of stable day-to-day trading conditions, confidence in the UK’s economy is falling due to increasing material costs and insurance costs.
The SNIPEF workforce survey also shows that the skills crisis is placing a lot of pressure on the plumbing and heating sector. 69% of firms report low availability of skilled professionals, the highest level to date, yet only 22% of these firms are planning to recruit an apprentice in the next six months. Just 21% say they are likely to increase their staff, with cost being the largest hurdle.
47% of respondents are pessimistic about the economic outlook of the country in the next year.
These issues are part of a deeper problem, say SNIPEF
The Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) says that these issues are a symptom of chronic underfunding for education and apprenticeships that can only be remedied through targeted and employer-focused investment in growing the workforce.
Fiona Hodgson, chief executive of SNIPEF, said: “We are now seeing the cumulative impact of government inaction, with funding support frozen for more than eight years. Our members continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience amid ongoing global economic uncertainty, but resilience alone cannot replace the need for a skilled and sustainable workforce.
“Our employers have continued to sound the alarm: they cannot find the people they need, and too few have the resources to train the next generation. Without urgent government action, our capacity to deliver on housing, infrastructure and net zero targets will begin to manifest in the next two to three years.
“Policymakers continue to talk about the value of apprenticeships and the green transition, yet the very trades needed to deliver them are being starved of support.
“If we are serious about installing low-carbon heating systems and driving social and economic mobility, we need thousands more trained professionals. That starts with investing in apprenticeships now, not two or three years down the line.
“SNIPEF is also calling for:
- Increased funding for employer training incentives
- An immediate review of vocational education and SME training support
- Better alignment between skills policy and Scotland’s decarbonisation targets”
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