Home Property Skills crisis: Trades’ champion calls on government to promote skilled trades to avert dire shortage

Skills crisis: Trades’ champion calls on government to promote skilled trades to avert dire shortage

by Seamus Doherty Property Reporter
22nd Jan 25 10:44 am

Research shows that skilled trades are being overlooked by schools and colleges as a lucrative career path for young people

As statistics show that the trades skill shortage continues to pose an imminent threat to the UK, tradesperson champion MyBuilder.com is calling on the Government to take action to help young people into careers in the trades.

A recent survey from MyBuilder.com, a platform that connects reliable tradespeople with customers, showed that many Brits were concerned about the skill shortage, and would encourage their children into careers in trades.

In fact, the research showed that parents are recognising the opportunity in this industry, with 15 per cent of parents stating they would like their children to be in a skilled trade – making this the most desirable choice over occupations such as doctors, dentists, or lawyers.

However, many felt that schools and colleges and the Government were not doing enough to promote trades as a career choice.

Research revealed that only one in ten (13 percent) of students had been told about the skilled trades as a potential career choice.

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This is despite the fact that the UK is facing a nationwide trade skills shortage, predicted to cost the UK economy £98bn in missed GDP growth opportunities by 2030. The Construction Products Association (CPA) reported that there were 2.08m people employed in UK construction in 2024 Q1, which is 1.9 per cent lower than in 2023 Q4 and 14.3% lower (with 347,000 fewer workers) than at the recent peak in 2019.

The shortage affects not just existing homeowners who wish to repair, improve, or extend their homes, but the construction industry as a whole as it works to meet ambitious targets for building new homes. The lack of encouragement into trades is surprising when not only does the UK desperately need more people working in the trades, but it can also provide a well paid and reliable career.

Training on the job, no student debt, flexible working hours, and good rates of pay are just some of the benefits of a career in the trades – and yet many young people are still not considering it as an option.

Andy Simms, a construction expert from MyBuilder.com, said that the Government must take action to encourage schools and colleges to promote trades as a career choice.

“We hear from many of our tradespeople that the reason they knew about careers in the skilled trades was because it was a family business, or a friend had started training. However, few were told about it as an option at school – which is a travesty when there is a national shortage, and finding work after education is challenging.

“Working in the trades is very rewarding and offers so many benefits. There’s no need to get into student debt as you can often get apprenticeships, and there’s so much opportunity to go self employed or work flexible hours.

“Despite all this, and the Government’s housebuilding targets, there still isn’t a push for trades careers – and before long it will become harder and harder to find trades professionals without a long wait. The Government needs to work with schools and colleges to promote trades as an exciting career option to students, before we face even more of a shortage crisis.”

Chanelle Taylor, a painter with MyBuilder.com, said that her career has allowed her to be flexible with her hours, while proving to be extremely lucrative.

“I’d certainly encourage young people to consider the trades as a career. There are so many benefits – flexible working hours, good pay, and a great work/life balance. It’s also so satisfying to see a space transformed by your work – it’s a great feeling!”

Father-and-son team Scott and Frank McBride are plasterers on MyBuilder.com. Scott said that he believes younger people are not always aware of the opportunities a career in trades offers.

“When I was 16, I knew plenty of older boys who had gone into trades and they had cars and nice houses – it was really aspirational to work in trades. I started an apprenticeship at 16, and by 23 was in a position to offer to buy my parents’ house!

“My son followed me into plastering as he already knew the path it could take him on. He also took an apprenticeship and now works alongside me, and he’s never looked back. If he hadn’t had a father who worked successfully in trades, I’m not sure if he’d have taken that route as it doesn’t seem to be promoted as an option in schools – they seem keener to push kids into further academic studies, regardless of whether that’s the right route for them.”

Scott’s son Frank adds: “I knew I wanted to work in trades as I had seen first-hand the potential that career offers. But they didn’t really push it at school, and I might have ended up missing out if I hadn’t had family in the job.

“It’s so flexible – you can work for a company or go self-employed and there’s always an opportunity to work extra if you want to. It’s good money and even now in my early 20s I’m able to save for the future.”

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