In these times of higher business costs and greater uncertainty, taking on a new and inexperienced worker might be low on your list.
But as we face fresh challenges, we need new faces and a different range of skills to respond to them.
Amid the current economic turmoil, there remains huge demand in the construction industry, with plenty of opportunity forecast for Scotland.
The recent Construction Skills Network report from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) shows that 19,550 extra construction workers are needed in Scotland by 2027 to meet demand.
There are a range of projects set to bring a steady stream of work into Scotland this year alone, including the new River Clyde Bridge, Scottish Water’s £5bn capital investment plans, and £200m towards Scottish Gas Networks mains replacement, to name a few.
These opportunities in the infrastructure and industrial sectors will be major drivers for growth in Scotland.
But as well as these big projects, we face the huge challenge of making our homes fit for the 21st century, amid urgent warnings about environmental impact and the need for sustainability.
What are the challenges?
According to research by Skills Development Scotland, of 2.5 million homes in Scotland, only 262,000 are heated using low carbon sources. By 2030, the target is that over a million homes in Scotland will have converted to zero emissions heating - and the equivalent of 50,000 non-domestic buildings.
The installation rate is expected to peak at over 200,000 new systems per annum in the late 2020s, which is above the natural replacement rate for boilers. Low carbon Installations, such as heat pumps, are more labour intensive than gas boiler replacement.
In terms of energy efficiency, by 2030, a large majority of buildings, where technically and legally feasible and cost-effective, should achieve at least Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C, with all homes meeting this standard as a minimum by 2033.
In 2019, 62% of homes were owner occupied, of which 42% were rated as EPC band C or better. Social housing has a higher percentage of homes at EPC or above, with a 2019 survey showing that 56% of social housing stock was in this category.
To support heat decarbonisation by 2030, the industry need to find up to 5,000 thermal insulation installers, 12,700 heat pump installers, 1,200 direct electric installers and 4,000 heat network installers.
How do we meet these challenges?
To meet today’s challenges - and those of tomorrow - we need to attract more workers, with a new set of skills.
Apprenticeships are key to meeting these challenges.
Supporting the industry in attracting and retaining talent from right across Scotland will be our main priority at CITB, with a particular focus on training routes.
Our apprenticeship team in Scotland works closely with apprentices and employers to maximise skills development.
Around 96% of employers who take on an apprentice in Scotland are from micro and SME companies, so they are all small companies and they have their challenges.
We recognise that recruitment and finding the right people is a challenge, so if you are a construction employer thinking about taking on an apprentice, please visit our website and find out about the funding available.
Ian Hughes is the engagement director for Scotland at the CITB
