SummitSkills slams inadequate management

The Sector Skills Council for building services engineering (BSE) has published new research outlining 10 factors that influence the sector’s productivity, following extensive research and discussions with employers in the sector.

SummitSkills found that leadership and management skills is an area where specific action is needed.

Businesses often assume that ‘good’ craftspeople, whose technical skills enable them to excel, also possess the ability to become competent managers.

The majority of companies surveyed said their managers did not hold a management qualification. Where they did train their managers, a wide range of qualifications was used but only a small fraction was sector-specific.

Consequently, the BSE sector rarely trains its staff in managerial and leadership techniques and has difficulty in allowing managers time to go on managerial courses.

Where managers have gained formal qualifications, they are deemed suitably qualified for management, although evidence suggests this may not be the case.

Keith Marshall, chief executive of SummitSkills, explained why this is a worry.

“There is no coherent set of management qualifications on offer for the sector to improve its skills. The confusion about management qualifications and the poor uptake of management training has led us to believe that these issues could be a key cause of low productivity in the sector compared with international competitors, rather than skill deficiencies in craft operatives, as has previously been suggested.

“SummitSkills and our partners need to identify a clear suite of ‘fit for purpose’ management qualifications that are available in formats that are easy and attractive to engage with.”

SummitSkills also draws attention to the sector’s reluctance to engage in the renewables market because it might damage productivity, as it would encourage international competition to enter the market.