Poles depart

The Construction Skills Network (CSN) recently revealed that the industry desperately needs to acquire a staggering 182,000 more workers in the rush to complete buildings for the 2012 London Olympics. Resulting from this rather concerning statistic, Resourcing Solutions - a recruiter that sources candidates for technical and professional project-led work within the construction and engineering sectors - expressed their own concerns. Their argument is that if the current and impending critical skills shortage is not met, then it will impact upon other important UK projects, which will feel the negative implications likewise.

Richard Lawrence, managing director of Resourcing Solutions, commented: "We're not just talking about manual labour here. From builders to engineers, planners to senior management, there is a skills shortage across the board that needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later. Without competent engineers and experienced senior management, the building of the Olympic infrastructure will not be delivered. Meeting these deadlines will undoubtedly depend on the recruitment of highly skilled migrant workers from overseas - an essential resource in this climate".

But Richard says the industry needs to be doing more to stabilise in the long term. "It's vital we deliver a first class Olympics but other major construction and transportation projects must not suffer as a result. Hospitals and schools, for example, still need to be built; and the rail and transport network must continue to be improved and maintained across the country. Over the next few years we have to really focus our efforts on recruiting, training and retaining people in the industry, while also doing all we can to promote the sector as a desirable area in which to work. We need to be doing all we can to ensure that quality engineers, planners and project managers, for example, are coming out of university and into positions in which they can thrive and grow."

But despite their best intents, it may be all too late as far as the Olympic games are concerned; as recent reports (by The Eastern European Migrants Advice Committee) are indicating that migrants are returning to Poland due to low wages and poor living conditions in the UK. Additionally, whilst we here are solely fixated on the 2012 London Olympics, let's not forget that Football's European Championships - which are also taking place in 2012 - are being held jointly by both Ukraine and, yes - Poland. With construction work now underway for this project, the Polish contingent in the UK has noticed that many new job opportunities are presenting themselves, and have decided to return home to take advantage.

So where this leaves the construction for the Olympics is anyone's guess. With so many people relying on the Poles to undertake a multitude of contracts in the monumental task of preparing for the Olympics, it must seem very perturbing that many have now turned their backs. Share your sentiments by dropping me a line at simon.rowley@imlgroup.co.uk

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