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Overseas construction projects looking to source skilled staff from the UK have always been faced with a problem. They obviously want experienced professionals, but are often more likely faced with young wannabes chomping at the bit to get some travelling under their belts before marriage, kids and mortgages kick in. But since the downturn hit the UK construction industry, these jobs are becoming a lot more attractive to more mature staff, regardless of the 鈥榖aggage鈥� they bring with them.

The good news is the work is certainly out there for the taking, as Graham Hart, managing director of Emirates Exteriors, explains: 鈥淲hat is going to be required in terms of competent and experienced staff over here in the Middle East states alone over the next five to ten years is absolutely colossal. Consequently, finding and retaining the right kind of people here is quite hard, which is why we tend to go back to the UK to get the skill level we need.鈥�

Based in Dubai, Hart is pleased to have witnessed a surge of interest in these overseas placements, thanks in part to the downturn in the UK. 鈥淲e had a campaign back in May with adverts in local trade magazines in the UK and had a reasonable response,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut we went back about two months ago with a simple one or two-line advert and received something in the region of 250 applications in the first week and a half. It was absolutely tremendous.鈥�

This trend is backed up by Paul Foster, regional managing partner with EC Harris, also based in Dubai. 鈥淭he level of interest from our people in the UK for international assignments has risen remarkably in the last six to nine months. This is something we鈥檙e welcoming with open arms, but is actually being driven by people in our company looking to further their careers elsewhere in the business. People鈥檚 horizons are becoming broader, and the slowdown in western Europe is definitely having an impact on the willingness of staff to travel. We鈥檙e finding the push from our people is greater than the pull from us to get them here.鈥�

From an employer鈥檚 perspective, staff with kids are a perfect marriage for us; and they don鈥檛 have to worry about schools

Graham Hart, Emirates Exterior

Although Hart admits most of overseas applicants are younger staff at the beginning of their careers, he stresses his company is keen for more experienced staff to take up overseas posts. 鈥淥lder staff tend to have greater ties, with elderly parents, schools and friends which tend to keep them back in the UK, but we鈥檙e more than happy to make offers to the right people, including those that are married and have children.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really not a problem for us, or for them, to bring their families over here. In fact, from an employer鈥檚 perspective, staff with kids are a perfect marriage for us; and they don鈥檛 have to worry about schools, as the schools here are excellent, although I admit they are quite expensive and all fee-paying.鈥�

Hart points to himself as a good example of a more 鈥渆xperienced鈥� person carving out a working life abroad in the construction market. 鈥淏eing in my fifties, I鈥檝e gone through having a family and the mortgage and all those associated responsibilities, and I鈥檓 now at an age where I think I could make a big difference in the industry here, and also have a challenge.

鈥淎nd I鈥檓 not alone; a number of the people we employ here have had their kids and now want to be part of the construction industry somewhere exciting and challenging, and Dubai provides all of this.鈥�

Eastern Europe isn鈥檛 seen as perhaps as glamorous as, say, the Gulf. But speak to the people who are already out there and it鈥檚 really booming

Jackie Lister, Gleeds

So what kind of support and help are companies in the building arena giving to those looking to relocate? Jackie Lister, recruitment manager with international management and construction consultant Gleeds, admits the company is relatively new to this area, but it does its utmost to guide new applicants through the whole process of relocating. Part of Lister鈥檚 job is to find out as much information as possible about not just the projects, but about what it鈥檚 like to live in a particular region, how easy it is to find accommodation, what the schooling availability is like, and so on. 鈥淲e want to make sure we have this support in place so that people can mentally prepare themselves for the non-work-related aspects of overseas projects,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his enables them to concentrate on whether they feel comfortable with what鈥檚 required of them professionally on the project and in the office.鈥�

As for Emirates Exteriors, Hart says the company gives advice on everything from opening a bank account and sorting through the tax implications of becoming a non-resident to finding accommodation and schools for the kids. In fact, if you鈥檙e at a particular level within the management structure, then the company will also contribute towards the school fees.

鈥淥ur support really is quite in-depth,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e always tend to make sure those potentially relocating come out and experience the place first-hand before making a definite decision. You often find they go away having fallen in love with the place in a couple of days, but we always allow a cooling-off period of a few weeks, during which time they can seriously get their heads around what it will really mean to them to pack up and move over here.鈥�

He adds that nine times out of 10, people that are in relationships and come out here bring their partners with them. 鈥淓ither they come with them immediately or six to 10 months later,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd there are many other industries here in what is a growth economy where spouses can get work that isn鈥檛 necessarily in construction.鈥�

What you鈥檝e got in the UAE is a strict social structure, which takes some getting used to. It certainly has for me

Paul Foster, EC Harris

Some geographical areas are obviously more popular than others, particularly to the more experienced professional. 鈥淐entral and eastern Europe isn鈥檛 seen as perhaps as glamorous as, say, the Gulf, or isn鈥檛 as well known as Australia,鈥� says Lister. 鈥淏ut speak to the people who are already out there and it鈥檚 really booming. And it鈥檚 got the added bonus of not being so far to get home to see family and friends.鈥�

The UAE is clearly a popular destination for older applicants, with what Foster says is a very family-friendly lifestyle. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e also got every pastime and leisure activity that you could possibly want to engage in, and the quality of schooling is good as well. This isn鈥檛 a hardship posting. It鈥檚 a really good quality environment in which to live. If you wanted a hardship posting, I could give a list of countries where someone could earn more money but have a less enjoyable and comfortable existence.鈥�

Despite the quality of life Foster talks of, any new environment requires a period of acclimatising, and the UAE is no different. 鈥淲hat you鈥檝e got here is a strict social structure, which takes some getting used to,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t certainly has for me. Then there鈥檚 the more mundane things like different road rules or how to go about getting a doctor鈥檚 appointment. Everything you take for granted at home, you suddenly have to relearn. This applies equally to the knowledge of the marketplace into which you come to work. It can take six months sometimes to get properly up to speed.鈥�

Having said that, Foster is adamant it鈥檚 worth the effort. He also thinks the opportunities for overseas work can only continue. 鈥淪ome of the projects we鈥檝e got abroad are just fantastic in terms of career development, the challenges they offer and the potential to give professional satisfaction. There really couldn鈥檛 be a better industry to be in during the next three to five years,鈥� he concludes. Perhaps it鈥檚 time to dig that passport out; after all, you鈥檙e never too old for a bit of adventure.