There was much chin-wagging at JTL’s national conference about how to make the industry more attractive to young people.

Unfortunately, there was no answer to the question of where are the contractors who will employ them if there was a surge in demand.

Last year, 9000 youngsters passed JTL’s aptitude test wishing to become electricians. Only 2500 places could be found for them, yet 7000 electricians leave the tools each year. Where’s the future in that?

Meanwhile, at a different industry get together, health and safety was the topic (pages 17-18). Construction is struggling to meet the targets it set itself at John Prescott’s summit back in 2001. It seems that despite all the good words, the industry is a long way from zero tolerance of deaths and serious injuries.

Undoubtedly there is a link between health and safety performance and recruitment. As construction minister Nigel Griffiths pointed out, if the industry is looking for new entrants, its message cannot be that deaths and injury are acceptable. Where’s the future in that?

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor