Shropshire Star

Projects creating big demand for Shropshire workers

Major infrastructure projects being planned for across the UK is creating a desperate need for extra workers to enter the construction industry, a Shropshire business has warned.

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Schemes such as the HS2 high speed rail network will add to the rise in housebuilding in increasing the need for skilled machine operators, according to Mike Hawkins, chairman of the Hawk Group at Prees Green.

And at present, he warned, the UK is ill-equipped for the explosion in infrastructure works such projects will deliver.

"The industry is massively short of skills, and in particular machine operators for things like bulldozers, excavators and dump trucks," Mr Hawkins said.

"There's approximately a 40 per cent shortage of workers throughout the UK. We have been proactive in dealing with the problem, so it is not affecting us as much, but the effect on the whole country is going to be phenomenal unless companies do what we have been doing and get moving.

"Particularly with HS2 coming forward as well, unless we are training now we won't have people to complete the infrastructure work."

Hawk, which has worked on major projects all over the country including the Olympic Park in London, the M25 and the Channel Tunnel, is in negotiations to land a key role in the development of the new high speed railway.

And it has already won the right to deliver groundwork for the new Hinkley Point B nuclear power station near Bridgwater in Somerset.

The company, which employs more than 700 people from its headquarters in north Shropshire, is now hoping to develop new staff entering the industry through its training arm, which will also boost other companies in the industry.

"Because we can't attract enough apprentices to the sector, we have gone overseas and brought in people from Portugal and Spain, where people have skills but can't find work," Mr Hawkins said.

"Projects have got to be finished on time, and you have to hit your targets, so it's so important that operators are on the machines to enable that."

He added: "We are training people for other companies as well, including some major construction companies, and are working with Walford College and Somerset College, and are in the process of setting up a similar training programme down there.

"There has always been a cost barrier for youngsters to get into the sector, and fortunately over the last few years the government has developed a system to enable them to get training."

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