Construction Confederation calls claims that skills crisis will hinder schools programme 鈥榮eriously misguided鈥�

Industry leaders have this week hit back at claims that the construction industry lacks the capacity to deliver its public sector workload.

The Chartered Institute of 好色先生TV said delivery of the 拢2.2bn 好色先生TV Schools for the Future initiative was being jeopardised by an overstretched workforce.

The Construction Confederation has called the CIOB鈥檚 comments 鈥渟eriously misguided鈥�.

Stephen Ratcliffe, the confederation鈥檚 chief executive, said problems with delivery would only arise if the government failed in its promise of consistent investment.

Ratcliffe accused the CIOB of undermining the industry鈥檚 chance to win that workload. He said: 鈥淭he last thing we need is mixed messages about the industry鈥檚 ability to deliver. We frequently meet government departments to reassure them that the industry is ready, willing and able to deliver the public investment programme, and seek to convince them of the need for a smooth and consistent workflow.鈥�

Ratcliffe鈥檚 anger was echoed by the Construction Products Association, which said it was 鈥渟taggered鈥� to hear the claims.

The last thing we need is mixed messages about our ability to deliver

Stephen Ratcliffe

A CPA spokesperson said there was 鈥渁bsolutely no substance鈥� to the CIOB鈥檚 claim as far as manufacturers were concerned. The spokesperson added that the CPA was working closely with Partnership for Schools to ensure delivery.

The row was started by Michael Brown, the CIOB鈥檚 deputy chief executive, who said the industry was suffering a capacity problem as a result of its shrinking workforce, with low staff retention and a fall in recruitment. He said this would affect the feasibility of projects such as the programme to upgrade and refurbish 180 secondary schools across England within 15 years.

Brown said: 鈥淩ecruitment takes time, as does the training necessary to produce the standard of workmanship for these projects to take place.鈥�

However, Ratcliffe argued that the industry had never failed to deliver a project as a result of labour shortages. Instead, he praised the flexibility of a workforce that shifts transferable skills where necessary to meet programme deadlines.

Ratcliffe said: 鈥淭he industry has demonstrated its ability to respond to growth, despite skill shortages in certain areas.鈥�