Recruiting the Next Generation

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, Build UK has published the results of its latest survey of members to understand current employment trends in the industry, particularly in relation to apprentices and other new entrants. ‘Recruiting the Next Generation’, supported by CITB, reveals 92% of Contractor members and 61% of Specialist Contractors directly employ apprentices. On average, 85% of apprentices employed by members successfully complete their apprenticeship, which is significantly higher than the target of 67% set by Government for all apprenticeships by 2025.

Managing Price Volatility

The conflict in the Red Sea has seen the cost of shipping between China and Europe more than triple since mid‐December, with delays of up to two weeks being reported, and the CLC is monitoring the impact on construction products. Build UK’s guidance on Managing Price Inflation sets out how to manage the risks associated with price volatility, including the use of fluctuations provisions

EA Waste Survey

Following a consultation last year, the Environment Agency has launched a short survey on proposed changes to waste regulation, including the new permit system for businesses handling waste, which is designed to make it easier to enforce against non‐compliant operators. The deadline for responses is 25 February.