Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Vice President James Wates attended an emergency private summit between Government officials and senior construction industry leaders, regarding the industry's current shortage of apprentices due to the recession.

Over 600 apprentices have been made redundant in the past six months, with predictions that the figure could top 1,000 this year.

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The Government is seeking solutions to both the present job shortages and the widening skills gap created by apprentices not kept in the industry.

James Wates, who is also Chairman of the UK Contractors Group, along with Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of ConstructionSkills attended the meeting with a number of senior civil servants and union officials.

One measure under discussion is the idea of making it mandatory to offer apprenticeships on all public sector construction projects.

The summit comes only two weeks after Skills Secretary John Denham and Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls revealed the Government’s decision to increase apprenticeships by 35,000 across the public and private sectors.

(CD/JM)