Despite the many column inches written about the impact of Brexit, few have focused on the issue of construction skills.
Some have argued that our over-reliance on overseas tradesmen will, in the event that some are forced or choose to go home, lead to a skills shortage and a consequent rise in costs.
But nobody seems to have questioned why we are reliant on them in the first place. Why are we not producing skilled workers ourselves?
Is it the drive over the last 20 years for more people to go to university, or do we simply not have enough training places/apprenticeships available?
Hopefully the new government will start to focus on this and encourage more of the young to take a worthwhile and well-paid trade, meaning that UK plc is better placed to deliver its own workforce, and in so doing keep more money in the UK economy as well.
David Hughes, director, Alchemy Asset Management
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