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Are we fishing from a small<br />
pool that could be a lake?<br />
Over the last 10-20 years, there has been an explosion in offsite built student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation, hotels and retail units, and timber<br />
frame has been the “traditional” method of housebuilding in Scotland for many years. Is the rest of the UK catching up, and is<br />
offsite leading innovation in housebuilding?<br />
Since Grand Designs first graced our TV<br />
screens in 1999 (yes it really has been<br />
that long) we have seen some great uses<br />
of offsite construction, showcasing some<br />
beautiful designs. These are beyond the grasp<br />
of the majority of UK households, but thanks to<br />
some innovators in timber frame, CLT, light<br />
gauge steel and modular/volumetric, it is<br />
becoming more of a reality, and many of these<br />
will be on display at the Offsite Show at the<br />
ExCeL Centre in October..<br />
So how can we ensure we have the skills to<br />
meet this change in how we build our houses?<br />
We are well aware of the lack of trade skills in<br />
the construction industry, and whilst offsite<br />
reduces the need for large quantities of people,<br />
it has a skills shortage itself. In addition, while<br />
some manufacturing jobs may be lower skilled,<br />
and are popular with many available job seekers<br />
(permanent, steady, indoors, secure) we also<br />
need to further increase efficiencies, which can<br />
lead to new skill requirements, eg<br />
Manufacturing Managers and Engineers,<br />
Logistics/Transportation, Lifting Operations and<br />
Construction Site/Project Managers (who<br />
understand the differences between building in<br />
situ, and installing factory-built systems).<br />
We are seeing particular skills shortages in<br />
offsite for Designers, Technicians and Structural<br />
Engineers, and need to ensure there is sufficient<br />
“pull” to attract the good people to join the<br />
industry. Are we offering the right salary/benefit<br />
packages? Are there other less tangible<br />
benefits that would attract? Can we consider<br />
“satellite” offices or home-based people? Is<br />
there any potential to fund relocation for key<br />
people? Do we need to look at sponsoring work<br />
permits for overseas candidates? (This could be<br />
particularly relevant after the UK leaves the EU)<br />
Are we fishing from a small pool that could be a<br />
lake? As recruiters, we are still rarely asked to<br />
source skills from other sectors, even if they<br />
wanted to move! The default is to ask for<br />
specific sector experience, thus getting what we<br />
always had. We find some of the very best<br />
candidates and clients are the few who have<br />
su<strong>cc</strong>essfully made moves from automotive or<br />
aerospace etc, and adapted to manufacturing<br />
for construction. The level of skill in other<br />
sectors could bring great advances to offsite,<br />
but a significant number of our clients are still<br />
insisting on construction experience; this is<br />
despite constant comparisons with automotive<br />
and aerospace where we are told we need to be<br />
more like these industries. Would the benefits<br />
of bringing in a new perspective outweigh the<br />
“negatives” of spending time learning a new<br />
industry? Many of our clients’ manufacturing<br />
management have a background in other<br />
manufacturing industries, but can we look at<br />
Designers, Technicians, Engineers, Estimators,<br />
Quantity Surveyors too?<br />
Sue Eustace, Senior A<strong>cc</strong>ount Manager at ARV<br />
Solutions, the specialists in offsite construction<br />
staffing.<br />
www.arvsolutions.co.uk<br />
26 <strong>MMC</strong><br />
Sep/Oct 2016 MI
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