CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
CSR CHANGES: LESS THAN 18 MONTHS TO GO Only 18 months remain until the deadline for Construction Skills Register (CSR) skilled cardholders and above to renew with an NVQ qualification or equivalent. This aligns with Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) One Industry Logo requirement for GB card acceptance. Cards (blue, gold, platinum, black) obtained via assessment and Industry Accreditation must hold an NVQ or equivalent by Dec 31, 2024. Labourer cards are unaffected. Further information and guidance is available on the CEF website: www.cefni.co.uk/CEFNI/CEFNI/ Schemes_/CSR/industry-accred. aspx. or contact CSR by email: csr@cefni.co.uk or by phone on +44 (0)28 9087 7150. DAERA TAKES FORWARD WORK UNDER NI CLIMATE CHANGE ACT Stemming from the passing of the NI-specific Climate Change Act by the NI Assembly in spring 2022, DAERA is currently consulting on Northern Ireland’s 2030 & 2040 Emissions Reduction Targets & First Three Carbon Budgets. The consultation on the high- level document will close in mid-October and appears to act as a drawing together of the proposals of the various Government Departments as they seek to deal with the intent of the Act. For more information on the Construction Employers Federation, visit: www.cefni.co.uk
CEF CONSTRUCTION SURVEY UNDERLINES NEED TO PROGRESS SKILLS AGENDA
In June, the CEF Construction Survey reported skills as amongst the top four challenges the local industry is facing – access to skilled labour now ranks alongside political uncertainty, lack of pipeline and inflation as a key concern even in the short term for employers. Longer term forecasts suggest Northern Ireland will need to attract at least an extra 4,450 workers to the sector over the coming years. Given the uncertainty over pipeline and the difficulties of retaining talent locally, the outlook remains difficult. Broader challenges too remain, for instance, delivery of net-zero ambitions requires the future-proofing of the workforce including investment in retraining and the promotion of new types of skills to support the transformation of the industry. For CEF members the main skills issues identified from the survey include specific shortages in construction trades, visibility of pipeline and market confidence to recruit new workers along with the perception of construction as an attractive career path. The clearest message to emerge from the survey was that the prospects of the local construction sector are
being limited by reduced public works due to political uncertainty and inflation. The CEF Construction survey demonstrates the positive outcomes of collaboration between NI Executive and the construction sector. Over two years since PAN 01/21, a measure negotiated by CEF with the Department of Finance to address material shortages and cost increases, members’ reports show over £38 million benefit to public sector projects. This cooperation ensures project success and contractor viability in government endeavours, driven by openness and transparency. Respondents were also clear that markets in GB and RoI are currently more attractive for contractors due to their more secure pipelines, increased profit margins and better contract terms. In Northern Ireland, local political parties and policymakers are now readying for a game of catch up, the stand still continues, however, not only for the skills agenda, but across a litany of issues from planning to an uplift to building regulations and improving housing supply. In short, as others race ahead, we are preparing to start again.
For more information on the Construction Employers Federation, T: +44 (0)28 9087 7143 - E: mail@cefni.co.uk Visit: www.cefni.co.uk
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