Skills shortages is "critically" impacting budgets, according to a report by the Scape Group.

Almost 85% of public sector construction managers and 58% of private sector contractors and suppliers said the current skills shortage is negatively impacting the quality of their workmanship, as well as one in 10 citing it as critically impacting their ability to keep to budget.

Scape's 'Sustainability in the Supply Chain' report, which surveyed over 150 contractors, subcontractors and senior managers at public sector organisations, highlighted the realities of a skills shortage that is at "breaking point".

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The report highlights a juxtaposition between the public and private sector when it comes to how they define a healthy supply chain, and what their primary aims are. Within the public sector, 70% of those surveyed felt that providing long-term benefits for the local economy should be one of the biggest priorities, compared to 58% within the private sector.

Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, said: "Our research has shown that the skills shortage is at breaking point, not only severely impacting the quality of what we are building but also our ability to build it on budget.

"While there is a mountain to climb to overcome this challenge, basic recommendations can be put in place to ease the burden, for example, 19% of contractors and subcontractors still do not have an apprenticeship scheme."

(CD/JP)