The next Government must secure skilled workers for the UK's construction industry, according to the Federation of Master Builders.

The organisation has published its 'Programme for Government', stating the upcoming General Election in June is 'much more than a referendum on Brexit'.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said if the next Government fails to ensure the construction industry has enough skilled workers post-Brexit, manifesto pledges concerning housing and infrastructure "will be rendered meaningless".

"The UK construction sector's demand for skilled migrant workers from the EU and beyond cannot be overstated," he said.

"In London alone, there are more than 157,000 non-UK construction workers constituting almost half of the industry's workforce in the capital. Pre-Brexit, 60% of small construction firms are already having trouble hiring bricklayers and that's before the UK abandons the free movement of people. If the next Government implements an inflexible immigration system that hinders the ability of talented foreign construction workers from making their way to the UK, any manifesto pledges relating to the delivery of housing and infrastructure will be rendered meaningless."

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Mr Berry continued by saying the most sustainable solution to the current skills deficit is recruiting and training more home-grown talent.

"Undoubtedly, the best way of achieving this is to focus on increasing the quality, duration and thoroughness of construction apprenticeships," he said.

"Giving technical and academic education “parity of esteem”, as the Chancellor stated in the last Budget, must be picked up and driven forward by the next Government and it's vital that the progress we've made on increasing the quality of apprenticeships does not go to waste.

"Through a flexible immigration policy and more high quality apprenticeships, the next Government will allow construction to act as a bulwark against any Brexit uncertainty."

To view the FMB's 'Programme for Government' here.

(LM)