In fact, the entire North-west is a thriving market, fuelled primarily by public sector projects funded either directly from the government or through the PFI. And this is creating career opportunities across the board.
Most spending has been on education and healthcare projects. In Liverpool alone, 17 schools are being rebuilt or refurbished and there are also several hospital projects on stream, including the Royal Preston.
“The regional market has gone through the roof,” says Jeff Taylor of Hays Montrose Liverpool. “Liverpool and Manchester city centres are particularly busy with urban regeneration.”
Liverpool’s latest regeneration initiative is the £700m plan to redevelop the Bluecoat Triangle, a prime city-centre site. This project will link Albert Dock to the city centre with retail and commercial developments.
The £30m phase one of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport recently created employment opportunities at all levels, and Everton Football Club’s £60m stadium is attracting a great deal of interest from candidates.
In Manchester, the Commonwealth Games led to increased development with stadiums, hotels and flats, and projects are continuing at a rapid rate with several £50m projects for office, residential and leisure blocks in the planning are construction stage across the city centre.
The region has also experienced massive growth in social housing recruitment over the past 12 months, as local authorities are moving to arm’s length management and stock transfers.
Salaries over the past few years have risen considerably, but have now plateaued. Hays Montrose’s Tim Rudkin says: “The growth of work in recent years led to huge salary increases initially, which have now levelled out. We expect them to remain steady for the next few years.”
With marketing campaigns to encourage people to relocate to the area, along with cheaper housing prices, the region is attracting a lot of new workers. However, there are still skills shortages in specific areas.
Taylor explains: “In the past 18 months, there has been a very short supply of quantity surveyors. Most applicants now get at least two offers, and salaries have risen at a higher rate than other jobs. A 25-year-old QS would typically earn £22,000-24,000, and a 45-year-old senior QS would be on £35,000-40,000.”
Golden handcuffs have become the norm, especially for the harder-to-come-by professionals. Rudkin says: “Particularly quantity surveyors in their 30s, with five years’ experience at a medium-to-large firm, are incredibly sought after. Companies are virtually offering them a blank cheque.”
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