With the construction industry starting to see an increase of planned and secured work, we’re faced with arguably the biggest challenge yet in our sector – PEOPLE…

With companies struggling to find quality personnel, we asked ourselves, what can we do to help bridge the widening skills gap – presenting Embassy Academy

One of the primary reasons we developed the Embassy Academy brand was to help promote education, information and collaboration in our industry. We acknowledge that there are two ways that we can help attract talent; the first is to attract seasoned personnel from within the industry, the second is to attract workers that are completely new to construction.

In our case, both Scaffolding and Roofing personnel are at a premium, and the need to bring new people into the industry is something we consistently strive for. However, getting people to commit and stay the course is always our biggest challenge. 

If we look at scaffolding, there’s absolutely no doubt that it’s a hard job, early mornings and manual work in all weathers.  But ask any seasoned scaffolder and they’ll tell you it can be very rewarding, and the pay is really very good. Yes, you start work early, but you also finish earlier too.  But outside of money and time, scaffolding is a real team effort and the progression is what you make it.  Add to this the variation of jobs functions and locations, scaffolding could prove to be an incredible career.

Like anything in life, when we manage expectations, we manage everything. Whether you’re an apprentice or perhaps an ex offender looking for a career opportunity, you should know that it’s really hard work (no matter the weather conditions). You will be expected to graft, and work both independently and as a team.  But when you join the right company, there is education and mentorship virtually every day. When you start as a labourer, you’ll receive lots of training, and before you know it, you’ll grow your own knowledge and experience.

Our advice is stick with it. But be under no illusion this is a simple office job, it isn’t. But nor is it boring and no one day is the same as another. As part of our Embassy Academy we promote that a job in scaffolding will bring a great many benefits. In fact, depending on your career path, the opportunities for management and director duties are possible.

With our industry looking to the future workforces, the opportunities for people entering the industry are almost limitless. But we need to act now, and we definitely need to reduce the drop off in construction.

At Embassy Academy, we’re playing our part, but remember; Your Industry Needs You…