The Construction Industry

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 3 November 2021.

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Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 2:16, 3 November 2021

As you met the CITB in June, you'll be fully aware of the skills deficit they highlighted in their report in March, about the sorts of skills that we need for the public buildings we're going to be building in the future, so people like energy assessors, retrofit co-ordinators, insulation and heat pump installers. The three major constructors involved in works in my constituency at the moment, Bouygues, Willmott Dixon and ISG, are all keen to tell me about the amount of local labour and suppliers that they have working on their projects. But, as most of the subcontractors are either sole traders or small companies involving maybe a dozen employees, how are we going to ensure that they are fit to take on the work that we're going to be requiring of all constructors involved in any buildings that involve public money and that the work isn't going to be brought in from outside?