Leading industry figures explore how this burgeoning sector is addressing a severe gap in skills

Latest research from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)* once again reflects a considerable shortage of talent throughout the UK property and construction sector, with 53% of contributors to the quarterly RICS UK Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey reporting a lack of skills as a constraint on growth. In the North West, a steep upsurge in building activity means firms are feeling the impact more intensely than anywhere else outside London.

“We’re seeing acute shortages of talent in key areas including building and quantity surveying, project management and cost consultancy,” explains Philip Youle-Grayling (pictured), head of property and construction at recruitment firm Perpetual Partnerships.

“The issue has been compounded by a marked slowdown in activity triggered by the 2008 recession which severely damaged the sector’s medium-term prospects and led to a drop in young people entering these professions.

“In the last four years activity has picked up again in a significant way, and this has cast light on the true impact of almost a decade of stagnation which has effectively created a skills gap of five to ten years.

“In the longer term, it is anticipated that more people will be attracted back into the industry, but for now employers need to do more to attract, motivate and retain good people,” adds Youle-Grayling.

Firms across the North West are reporting an increase in capital projects. At Big Four professional services firm Deloitte, Peter Wilkinson is head of the North West Real Estate team based at the firm’s Manchester office.

“Consultancy support and growth around HS2 and transport in general are just part of an upturn in activity that we’re seeing in the North West. The rise of the Northern Powerhouse and its agenda for devolved powers in transport and infrastructure and science and innovation are also stimulating confidence.”

In recent months, Deloitte’s capital projects team has supported Manchester Airport Group (MAG) in its £1bn transformation, as well as working with BAE Systems in Barrow, and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on a variety of capital projects and programmes.

“These are massive programmes of national importance employing thousands of professionals across the region. The career opportunities we have here in the North West are phenomenal and there’s no doubt they are set to grow.

“Science and innovation programmes such as the University of Manchester’s Graphene Institute are also stimulating the region’s building activity and securing our position on the global stage. This is an exciting time to be in the sector.”

Steve Gillingham, Regional Director at international consultancy and construction company Mace agrees that the North West offers some of the best opportunities for property professionals anywhere in the world:

“On the near-term horizon, a great area of growth is infrastructure, with two major nuclear schemes up and running in terms of consultancy teams, and several transport projects providing connectability right across the North of England led by Northern Rail and Metrolink.

“The Northern Powerhouse movement is driving the agenda, giving the region responsibility for energy, transport, and housing, developing digital infrastructure, locating international business and reinforcing our economy.

“All this makes our future in the North West very exciting. It will shape our business and we want a hand in influencing the agenda, but we recognise very clearly that to put ourselves in the best shape possible, we also need to play our part in addressing the shortage of skilled professionals.”

In Warrington, the economic development agency Warrington & Co, which drives growth on behalf of the local authority, is also reporting a large upsurge in building activity. Andrea Turner is the organisation’s Senior Development Manager leading housing delivery.

“The growth strategy in our area of the region includes the construction of major infrastructure, from roads and bridges to town centre retail, the Omega business park and 30,000 new homes, all of which links into a wider development policy across the Cheshire Region, the Atlantic Gateway and Northern Powerhouse.

“Our plans include 20 years’ worth of construction work in the Warrington Zone alone. Finding the skills we need to fulfil these projects in the volumes we need them is a very real challenge for us and our partners. A lack of supply of people in this industry means fewer developers to compete for contracts, and that leads to projects taking longer and costing more.

“In order to reap the greatest benefits for business and for our wider economic prosperity we need to explore new ways to stimulate the employment market.”

With the gap between supply and demand of technical property professionals at an all-time high, Perpetual Partnerships’ Philip Youle-Grayling says firms also need a strong value proposition to differentiate themselves from other companies competing for talent.

“The biggest salaries don’t always attract the best people. Satisfying a candidate’s career and life aspirations and providing them with the right environment to succeed in is just as important as meeting their financial expectations.

“Once a company has identified everything they can offer in terms of environment, benefits, progression, vision and values, this needs to be matched to candidates whose technical skill, personality and goals are closely aligned.”

Youle-Grayling also warns companies not to fall into the trap of making poor hiring decisions because they are under pressure to fill roles with a small pool of available talent.

“Employers need to look beyond what is immediately available. The reality is that the best people are usually busy; typically they don’t have time to look for a new job. They might not even realise that they’re not entirely happy where they are.

“These are the candidates who need to be won over, and they are unlikely to jump ship unless they are confident that what they are jumping for is better than what they already have. Can your organisation give them exposure to really interesting and challenging projects, good levels of mentoring and career progression, vocational and non-vocational training, a secure future?”

At Deloitte, Peter Wilkinson believes the combination of strategic advice and project delivery work that the firm provides means it can give property professionals a more varied career.

“As projects become more complex, we’re looking for people with technical expertise who can also undertake consultancy, and in return we can offer a varied and interesting career.”

The firm has also seen a shift in the way people manage their careers in the industry.

“We see a lot of very clever and talented people who want to work at Deloitte because we’re a big four firm. In recent years we’ve witnessed a clear shift in their aspirations as more candidates come to us with a very clear view of what they want from the job.

“Unlike previous generations who found professional reward and satisfaction from working for long stretches – often whole careers – in one firm, we’re now seeing a new wave of confident young professionals who want to develop their careers across several organisations, staying in one firm for just a few years.

“As an employer, we recognise the need to become more flexible; to change the way we think and develop new policies that work for new generations of professionals. We want to find ways to make the most of their skills and talents while they are here and help them to develop their careers in the way they want.”

Mace’s Steve Gillingham says that with a dearth of good candidates across the board, he and his team are having to work harder to identify and attract the best ones. But they too have an eye firmly on the future of the sector.

“We’re changing the way we recruit with a far more proactive approach at junior levels. Right now for example, the industry has access to a pot of just 700 to 800 quantity surveying graduates serving the whole of the UK. That’s simply not enough, and that scenario is replicated across several specialisms including mechanical and electrical engineers.

“We’re working with Manchester College to develop a professional apprenticeship programme and are running a series of regional recruitment days where we can build relationships with larger numbers of graduates, beginning with programme management, project controls, commercial and quantity surveying.”

Warrington & Co’s Funding and Skills Manager Tim Smith also believes a better apprenticeship model could hold some of the answers to stimulating the market.

“Schemes that recruit, employ and organise training for apprentices on behalf of multiple host employers, and then monitor results, would help to attract more young people into the industry, improve standards and ensure true apprenticeships are being undertaken.

“The Apprenticeship Levy might also hold more opportunities to solve the shortage of talent if businesses in scope are able to redirect surplus funding to address skills and recruitment needs in their existing supply chain or to meet future pipeline demand.”

Deloitte’s Peter Wilkinson adds:

“The North West is an extremely active and dynamic market, but in order to sustain our success we need more young people building their careers in this sector, and we need to attract more experienced professionals to the region.

“As a firm we are very mindful of the importance of maintaining a strong value proposition that reflects the high standard of opportunity and lifestyle that we can offer in the North West region.”

Andrew Roberts, managing director of Pennine, has been shortlisted for the Businessman of the Year title in the Made in Bury Business Awards (MIBBA).

It is the first time in the five-year history of the MIBBAS that the individual contributions of business men and women have been recognised.

Nominees for the award were required to demonstrate not just their business achievements and acumen, but their contribution to their community and industry. They also needed to display leadership skills and be seen as inspirational role models.

The winner will be announced on November 20^th when the awards climax with a celebratory a black tie dinner.

Mr Roberts’ shortlisting acknowledges the role he is playing in growing and diversifying the Pennine business.

Founded in 1976 as a two-way radio specialist, the company today offers a broad range of specialism which include unified communications, mobile telephony, hosted voice and data facilities plus managed IT support services.

Mr Roberts joined Pennine as an apprentice in 1978 and, having earned successive promotions, led a management buy-out as managing director in 2003.

Under his stewardship Pennine has grown into a diversified group which turns over some £17m. Last year he oversaw the sale of the business to Salford-based comms giant, the Nycomm Group of which he is also now a director.

He has long placed Pennine at the heart of Bury’s local community. The company has sponsored a number of local causes and events, including Bury Hospice, East Lancashire Railway, the Fusiliers Museum and Head for the Hills music festival.

He also contributes his time and expertise as a governor of the University of Bolton and in promoting the UpRising charity’s leadership and mentoring programme to young people.

In addition he is President of the Bury Chamber of Commerce and chairs Bury Business Leaders which advises Bury Council on strategic business and economic matters.

A partnership geared towards attracting talented students to careers in the hotel industry has been launched in Manchester.

Manchester Hoteliers’ Association and Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met) are behind the initiative that will see 10 final year undergraduates link up with general managers of some of the region’s most high-profile hotels.

The mentorship programme will see hospitality undergraduates interact with general managers on at least five occasions.

In a bid to create closer ties with the hotel community Manchester Met has already launched a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship in Hospitality, which sees full-time hotel employees study part-time and utilising the apprentice Levy or SME funding sources.

It also comes after The British Hospitality Association (BHA) recently submitted to the Government a 10-year-plan to encourage more UK people to consider a career in hospitality.

MHA Chair Adrian Ellis said 1,259 hotel rooms are due to open across Greater Manchester in 2018 – and has urged students and those interested in hospitality to join the boom.

“Our partnership with Manchester Met is all about inspiring people to get into the industry.

“Unfortunately, students can spend a few years studying hospitality and then end up not working in the industry which we think is a shame.

“The hotel industry offers fantastic progression and is a rewarding and enjoyable career that I can only recommend.

“We’ve already held a careers and skills day with Manchester Met at their Business School campus this year, which was a great success. It will be good to see how 10 final year undergraduates benefit from time spent with general managers of hotels that are part of our membership organisation – and vice versa too.”

Chris Mitchell, Principal Lecturer in Hospitality Management at Manchester Met, said: “We are a large university, with fantastic facilities and want to work as closely as possible with the Manchester Hoteliers’ Association to ensure our students develop into talented hospitality operators and managers for the future.”

“The student mentorship programme lead by, Amanda White, Programme Leader for Hospitality Business Management and Adrian Ellis, is another constructive way to express what a good partnership we have with MHA.

“On the flip side, Manchester Met were early adopters of degree apprenticeships with our Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship in Hospitality in 2016. Offering part time degree level studies to managers and operators working full time in the sector.

“For general managers of Manchester’s hotels, the degree apprenticeship is both an investment and a great opportunity to recruit talented school/college leavers to the sector or upskill their existing staff.”

Manchester-based Unicorn Grocery has reduced customer demand for millions of plastic bags in the run up to the second anniversary of the Government’s 5p bag tax.

Since opening in September 1996 Unicorn Grocery has offered a range of affordable, fresh and wholesome food with a focus on organic, fair-trade and local sourcing.

For the last 13 years it has been helping to change the culture of bag use by offering customers the use of environmentally-friendly reusable jute bags supplied by Jutexpo. The move has delivered results before and beyond the introduction of the plastic bag tax in England in October 2015.

Each one of the 250,000 specially-designed carriers they have sold for £2.85 each has a four-year lifespan and can reduce the need for 624 disposable plastic bags, creating a potential saving of up to 156million plastic bags over the years.

Worcestershire-based Jutexpo is the world’s biggest supplier of reusable jute bags and has more than 80 per cent of the UK market.

Jutexpo joined Unicorn Grocery to celebrate its 21^st birthday with a special presentation at the grocery, on Albany Road, Chorlton. 

Jutexpo Managing Director Barrie Turner handed Unicorn Grocery a framed print featuring many of the slogans which have been featured on the jute bags. Jutexpo has also designed a fun new organic cotton bag for Unicorn to mark its birthday. 

Unicorn Grocery has become one of the largest and most successful wholefood outlets in the UK. It was named the Soil Association’s Best Independent Retailer in 2016, adding to previous award wins from The Observer Food Monthly and BBC Radio Four.  Unicorn is currently waiting to hear whether it has won Best Food Retailer in Radio 4’s Food & Farming Awards, announced later in ~September.

As a workers’ co-operative the shop is owned and managed by the people who work in it, and they have created a place they want to shop in themselves.

Unicorn’s focus is on basic ingredients for tasty, interesting and really affordable cooking.

Director/Grocer Kellie Bubble said: “When we decided we wanted to introduce a bag for customers to reuse we had so many samples – different sizes and materials – but there was only one that stood out for our purposes and that was Jutexpo.

“We wanted to change the culture of bag use and we needed a bag substantial enough to get a whole load of groceries in, a bag that could deal with the weight of lots of tins and the space to fit in huge cauliflowers and the like.

“Once we found our bag all our members trialled it before we committed, it had to be fit for purpose and built to last.

“Over the last 13 years we have been approached so many times to switch to other suppliers but Jutexpo ticks every box.

“Unexpectedly the bags also ended up being a really useful way to promote Unicorn and issues that are important to us such as seasonality.

“When we first introduced the jute bags they had our logo on but pretty soon we got a little fed up of seeing our name everywhere so we decided to be a little more creative.“

Jutexpo Managing Director Barrie Turner said: “Unicorn Grocery is a great example of how the principles of affordable, fresh and wholesome food can be combined with competitive pricing and sustainable production with a social conscience. 

“We are delighted to be a part of their success story.”

Unicorn has grown from a turnover of £250,000 to £7.5 million and from four members to 70. It donates a steady 5% (around £80,000) of wage costs to local and international projects relating to its Principles of Purpose.

Jutexpo supplies a wide range of clients, including supermarkets, charities and the public sector.

Its jute bag production rose from 5.5million bags per year before the English plastic bag tax was introduced in 2015 to help reduce litter and protect wildlife, to 8.5million in the year of the bag tax and 7million a year since.

homes4u has sponsored England rugby ace Tom Curry and has renewed its partnership with Sale Sharks.

The Manchester-based property agents signed the deal with the north west’s only Premiership rugby club on the eve of this season’s curtain raiser.

It means the homes4u brand will be associated with Curry – England’s youngest debutant since Jonny Wilkinson – throughout Sale Sharks’ 2017/2018 campaign.

homes4u also expanded its corporate deal to further strengthen its relationship with Sale Sharks.

Earlier this year a homes4u MTV cribs-style video of the home of Director of Rugby Steve Diamond reached more than 30,000 people online.

Carolyn Mellor, homes4u Managing Director and owner, said: “We are delighted to be able to extend our partnership with Sale Sharks this year and further strengthen our links with the club. It is especially exciting to have agreed to be the player sponsor of Tom Curry, who is one of the hottest properties in Rugby Union right now.

“At homes4u we are always searching for ways to be both unique and more involved with our local community. Through the relationship we currently have with Sale Sharks, as well as the University of Manchester cycling club and local cancer charity Maggie’s, I am very excited about what the year ahead is going to bring.”

homes4u was established in 1990 and has branches throughout the city centre and south Manchester

The Sale Sharks deal will also result in Tom Curry – twin of fellow Sale Sharks player Ben Curry – making a media appearance, while the club will also promote the property agents on social media.

Mark Cueto MBE, Sale Sharks Commercial Director, said: “We’ve enjoyed our relationship with homes4u, a successful Manchester company that was established almost 30 years ago.

“And it’s great that we are going to be working with them throughout the next 12 months, in what will no doubt be an exciting season.”

Smart Storage’s £3million expansion to their Altrincham store will double the amount of lettable space currently available at the site.

The company’s flagship Altrincham store, based on Craven Road, off George Richards Way, has undergone the expansion to meet local demand for self-storage in the area.

Work is expected to finish soon, with the expansion scheduled to open for business in early October. It will provide an additional 25,000 square feet of lettable storage space, trade counters and offices at the branch.

The development has expanded the total amount of storage space available to over 45,000 square feet, with new storage space from 10 to 3500 square feet available.

Mike Wilson, CEO of Smart Storage, said: “We’re really excited to open the extension to our store in Altrincham, it’s going to provide a much-needed boost to the lettable space we have.

“Our main aim is to provide high quality, competitively priced self-storage services to both domestic and commercial users.

“Self-storage is perfect for local businesses, as space can be a real issue for smaller businesses in the local area.”

Following the extension, the Altrincham branch of Smart Storage now has 450 units, 20 offices and 3 trade counters available for both personal and business use.

Smart Storage, who have several self-storage sites based across the North West are looking to capitalise on increased demand for storage solutions.

Demand for storage has rocketed in recent times among UK residents, with almost half of all of Europe’s self-storage facilities found here.

Wilson went on to add: “We have seen a huge upturn in demand for self-storage over the past 12 months in the UK.

“A lot of our customers have been using our storage facilities for over two years now and there is more emphasis on long-term storage solutions.

“The new units are perfect for both domestic and commercial use, as we can offer a wide range of small and large units.”

A £1 billion blueprint to shape and transform the future of Bolton town centre has been formally approved.

The masterplan contains proposals to redevelop the town centre up to 2030 and beyond.

Redevelopment will include creating 1,800 new homes, 7,400 new jobs and generating economic activity worth an additional £412 million over five strategic sites.

The framework was adopted at a meeting of the council’s Cabinet today (September 25).

It comes as Bolton was named the ninth best place in the country for people to live and work in by Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job sites seeing off competition from the likes of Birmingham, Oxford and Belfast.

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, said the response to the masterplan had been very positive.

He said: “We have been really pleased with the reaction we have had from across the region from our partners, from businesses and most importantly the public.

“Yes, our plan is ambitious, yes it is bold, and yes it is aspirational. We make no apologies for any of this.

“The regeneration of the town centre is already underway with developments like the £27 million Market Place refurbishment and the £48 million Interchange.

“But more change is needed to make the town centre fit for the future and we are going to drive it forward as rapidly as we can.”

On the positive ranking by Glassdoor, Cllr Morris added: “This study confirms what we in Bolton already know – that it is a great town to live and work in.

“Our £1 billion plan for the town centre will facilitate the redevelopment and growth of our town and will help to make Bolton a more desirable town to live and work in.

“To feature so high up on a list ahead of a lot of other large towns and cities speaks volumes.”

The areas identified for improvement in the masterplan are: Trinity Quarter, Cheadle Square, Crompton Place, Church Wharf and Croal Valley.

Bolton Council announced initial details of the plan in July 2017 and the authority has since approved borrowing £100 million to kick-start the project. The remainder of the plan will be funded by private sector investors.

The £100 million will be used for a range of priorities including site assembly; getting sites ‘development ready’; public realm, and infrastructure.

It is hoped that work on the first phase – clearance of land in the Trinity Gateway and Church Wharf areas – can start as early as Spring 2018.

The strategy aims to remodel key areas of Bolton town centre with housing – a major proposal within the framework – to attract families, young professionals, older people and students.

Some of the main proposals include:-

• Trinity Quarter – creating a mixed Grade A office and residential development. A new hotel, office block and a multi-storey car park could be built at ‘Trinity Gateway’. The council is already in talks with NCP about the car park. A new pedestrian route through Trinity Quarter is also proposed, anchored by open space via four interlinked squares.
• Cheadle Square – developing housing and apartments on the former bus station site. On Queen Street creating student housing and a mixed used development to complement cultural venues such as the Octagon, Museum and Library, and establishing a pedestrian route between the Town Hall and Le Mans Crescent with Queens Park.
• Crompton Place – the framework envisages transforming the empty BHS store with an upper floor food court overlooking Victoria Square, exploring the possibility to expand Primark and creating a new pedestrian access between Bradshawgate and Hotel Street.
• Church Wharf – Church Wharf would be designated a new town centre ‘quarter’ with a mix of apartments and town houses, as well as a new pedestrian route along the River Croal.
• Croal Valley/Central Street – opening up the River Croal with an improved environment to make it a town centre feature – proposals include building houses and flats which would overlook the improved river frontage. A series of ‘pocket parks’ are proposed along the river.

International design company BDP was the lead consultant on the strategy.