News

Key points:

• Permanent placements growth slows, but temp billings rise at sharpest pace for four months
• Steepest drop in candidate availability for 16 months
• Demand for permanent and short-term staff remains marked

Summary:

The Markit/REC Report on Jobs – published today – provides the most comprehensive guide to the UK labour market, drawing on original survey data provided by recruitment consultancies.

Slowest increase in permanent placements for seven months

Growth in permanent staff placements slowed to its weakest for seven months during April, but was nonetheless solid overall. In contrast, temp billings increased at a sharp and accelerated pace that was the fastest seen in 2017 so far.

Sharper drop in candidate availability

The availability of permanent and temporary candidates declined at sharper rates in April, with the former posting the quicker pace of reduction. Notably, both categories saw the steepest deteriorations in candidate availability for 16 months.

Strong growth in salaries sustained...

Although growth in permanent starting salaries edged down to a four-month low in April, it remained sharp overall and stronger than the series average. Meanwhile, hourly pay rates for short-term staff increased at the sharpest pace in 2017 so far.

...as demand for staff remains sharp

Vacancies continued to rise markedly in April for both permanent and temporary/contract staff. This was despite growth in demand for both types of staff softening slightly since the previous month.

Regional variation

The Midlands saw the fastest rate of expansion in permanent placements, closely followed by Scotland. Meanwhile, London saw the slowest increase.

Temp billings growth was recorded across all monitored regions, led by Scotland and London. The weakest increase was registered in the South of England.

Sector variation

Latest data pointed to divergent sector trends, with demand for staff rising sharply across the private sector, but declining across the public sector. Demand for private sector permanent and temporary staff rose sharply despite the rates of expansion easing to four- and three-month lows, respectively.

At the same time, vacancies for permanent public sector staff declined for the second month in a row, albeit slightly. Demand for public sector temporary workers meanwhile fell for the first time since January, though only slightly.

Engineering was the most in-demand category for permanent staff in April, closely followed by IT & Computing and Nursing/Medical/Care. Nonetheless, strong expansions were seen across the board at the start of the second quarter.

April data signalled a broad-based upturn in demand for temporary/contract workers in the UK.
Nursing/Medical/Care continued to top the table, while Hotels & Catering placed second in the overall rankings.

REC Chief Executive Kevin Green says:

"Demand for staff is growing within all sectors and all regions of the UK, but there are fewer and fewer people available to fill the vacancies. We have the lowest unemployment rate since 2005, and people already in work are becoming more hesitant about moving jobs amid Brexit uncertainty. Meanwhile, the weakening pound and lack of clarity about future immigration rules is putting off some EU nationals from taking up roles in the UK.

"As a result, candidate availability is at a 16-month low and recruiters are flagging a shortage of suitable applicants for more than 60 different roles from cleaner to accountant. Every shortage has wider implications, for example the exceptional reputation UK engineering enjoys globally is at risk because employers can't find people with the skills they need.

"One thing is for certain, if British business is to thrive then whichever party forms a government after 8 June needs to address the ever-shrinking pool of suitable candidates by investing in skills and career advice for UK jobseekers, as well as safeguarding access to the workers we need from abroad. It is vital that the future immigration system is agile enough to reflect and adapt to evolving labour market needs."

Article https://www.rec.uk.com/news-and-policy/press-releases/permanent-placements-increase-at-slowest-pace-since-last-september (23/5/2017)

Non-residential project starts in March saw a surge in March, with their value being 7% ahead of the same period in 2016, according to the latest Glenigan Index. The surge was supported by a stabilisation in hotel and leisure starts and increases in private housing, industrial, retail, amenity, and health and community. Residential starts were 1% higher than a year earlier as a rise in private-housing starts was offset by subdued activity in the social-housing sector.

Overall, the value of work starting on site in the three months to March was 2% higher than during the same period a year ago. On a seasonally adjusted basis, starts were 2% up of the last three months of 2016.
Allan Wilén, Glenigan's economics director, said, 'Private residential starts for the three months to March were 6% higher than a year ago and 3% up on the previous quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis.
'This renewed strengthening in starts is encouraging and should help sustain sector activity growth during the current year.'

Non-residential project starts during the first quarter were 10% up on the previous three months on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Glenigan figures exclude projects valued at over £100 million to present clearer time-series trends.
Regions in England that saw double-digit growth during the first quarter compared with a year earlier were the south east (27%), north east (19%) and east (14%). Wales had a growth of 13%. There was also growth in the London and the north west of England.

Elsewhere, the value of project starts slipped back, with the sharpest drop being the West Midlands at 20%.

Industry news taken from: http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/16950/Boost_for_first-quarter_construction_starts.html (19/5/17)

Tim Wentz, the President of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, was speaking at the CIBSE's Technology Symposium at Loughborough University in April 2017, when he called on Engineers to embrace the potential of technology to deliver more comfortable and effective buildings, and he emphasised the dramatic changes that are being driven by digital technologies.

Tim Wentz spoke about what he believes is an imminent 'golden age' for engineering and listed psychology and its role in occupant satisfaction as being a growing area for building-services engineers to occupy as traditional disciplines are increasingly taken over by computers.

With computers capable of more processing power that all of humanity predicted to exist by 2050, he encouraged engineers to embrace the opportunity to build better buildings than ever before in a 'built-environment renaissance'.

CIBSE president John Field said, "It is exciting time to be an engineer as technology changes profession right before our eyes. We need to be prepared to embrace new ideas and techniques as they develop to take full advantage of their potential. Events like the Technical Symposium show us what is possible by giving a platform to some of the best engineering minds at the top of their fields and by allowing us to all swap and share ideas that may result in the next big advances in the future."

This news has been taken from http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/16952/Engineers_are_encouraged_to_seize_future_opportunities.html (19th May 2017)

Latest forecasts by the Construction Products Association (CPA) suggest that activity in the construction industry is rising at a faster pace than initially expected following the EU referendum.

Construction output is expected to rise each year between 2017 to 2019 by 1,3% in 2017, 1.2% in 2018 and 2.3% in 2019.

Although the figures may fuel hope of a resilient UK construction industry amid Brexit-related anxieties and rising costs, the growth masks a considerable difference in activity across the construction sectors . Infrastructure projects are expected to be the industry's main growth engine, driven by a strong National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline valued at £300 billion over the next four years.

In particular, growth to 2019 is expected to be primarily driven by a 34.5% increase in infrastructure activity due to major projects in the energy, rail and water sub-sectors, which would offset expected falls in commercial and industrial construction.

Read more here: http://www.heatingandventilating.net/cpa-forecasts-show-construction-industry-activity-ahead-of-post-brexit-expectations

Modern Building Services and the Building Controls Association have joined together to create a program. Part 2 of 4 in 2017 speaks about the importance of the role of the engineer and future training needs to tackle the building performance challenge.

Some key point from this includes:
• The industry fully recognise s the importance of building controls as a smart and effective solution to energy saving and long term performance.
• Retaining the talented engineers and skilled professionals within the industry is important
• Part L of the 2013 Building Regulations states that "reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by providing fixed building services which are energy efficient and have effective controls"
• At the 2016 Building Services Summit it was outlined that the vast majority of builders do not understand controls, yet they are responsible for reducing costs of the building.
• It is down to the engineer to fully engage with the client and explain that bricks and mortar is much more than just a building.
• Training at all levels is essential in tackling the building performance challenge, so let's be united in winning this battle.

More about this can be read here: http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/16963/Time_to_train_the_next__generation_in_building_controls.html

A guide has been released by the Industrial & Commercial Energy Association (ICOM) to commercial water treatment in response to industry concerns of poor water treatment and conditioning in commercial heating systems.

The main focus of the guide is on water treatment for boilers and heating systems, and the guide has been contributed to by many of the leading commercial-boiler manufacturers.

The audience of the guide is expected to be plant operators, engineers and people with little or no knowledge of water-treatment chemistry. It will assist with their understanding of what effect any water and its subsequent treatment will have on a heating system.

Ross Anderson, director of ICOM said, 'The consequences of inappropriate or non-existent water treatment can prove costly to rectify and give rise to arguments between equipment manufacturers and plant operators.
'The treatment of water in closed and open heating systems is essential for the avoidance of fouling, biofouling, corrosion and scale. These problems can result in energy wastage, poor system performance and the need for early replacement of heating system components.

'Any installation must be thoroughly flushed and cleaned before it can be filled and used. ICOM's comprehensive guide deals with all aspects of water treatment for commercial heating systems.

'By studying the contents and following the freely given advice, heating systems will operate more efficiently with less chance of failure.'

Details of the story taken from: http://www.modbs.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/16941/Water_treatment_for_commercial_heating_systems.html

This might seem like an odd choice of word for us to have picked, but if we said to receive praise for an achievement, compliments and congratulations, it's easy to see why this fits.

What greater acknowledgement of everything you have achieved, your growing skill set, your years of experience than getting a new job, being chosen as the right person for the role.

It's not always that simple and trying to find that new job for yourself can be time consuming, but by using SER we can help you. We are always talking to the people in your industry and we can find you the next step in your career.

When all these things come together and you are starting your new job, this is great kudos.

Sometimes the Kudos you receive unexpectedly is the best – submit your CV today and if something comes up that will help give you the recognition and praise you deserve we will be in touch.

Let SER help you find the Kudos you deserve.

It is now compulsory for all people working in Scottish Water's water distribution operations, including contractors and the supply chain, to complete water hygiene training and register for an accreditation scheme.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water's Chief Operating Officer, said: "In Scottish Water we are committed to delivering the highest possible standards of drinking water quality for our customers. To support this commitment, we place a great deal of importance on the need to have a National Water Hygiene Scheme 'Blue Card' for any individuals who work on or near our drinking water assets.

"In addition to water hygiene, and with the support of Energy & Utility Skills, we also created our own Scottish Water registration scheme for our water distribution operations and maintenance (DOMS). DOMS allows us to bring a strong focus to all aspects of operations on our water networks and to monitor and manage access to our infrastructure. We believe this is a vitally important area and in addition to the requirements for people directly involved in water operations we have also created interactive online learning that we have made available to all of our employees regardless of their role to increase awareness and promote understanding about the vital role that we play in assuring quality standards."

Nick Ellins, Chief Executive of the Energy & Utility Skills Group, welcomed the move by Scottish Water. "The National Water Hygiene Training and Accreditation Scheme was introduced to the industry over a decade ago as a collaboration between the UK water industry, key public health bodies and EUSR to provide the workforce with the ability to operate to the highest hygiene and safety practices whilst working on the water network.

"It now forms an integral part of the Scottish Water Distribution Operations Maintenance Strategy and has become established as a vital element in making excellence the standard in public health. Scottish Water and the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland have set out very clearly their expected standards of hygiene knowledge and behaviours for those in contact with the public water supply, promoting a safety-first culture right across Scotland."

The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland, Sue Petch, added: "It is imperative that all activities carried out on water supply systems are of the highest standard and are done so in a way that prevent any impact on drinking water quality and consumer confidence in the supply. The National Water Hygiene training and accreditation scheme makes sure that anyone working on water systems is able to demonstrate their competence and understanding of best practice."

Make sure you don't lose your qualification certificates

The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) is reminding plumbing and heating engineers and installers about the value in retaining their plumbing and heating qualification certificates.

The APHC acknowledges that experience is important and some people have 20 or 30 years experience, but retaining their certificates helps to demonstrate that their experience has been achieved after achieving an industry proven standard of practical and theoretical training.

John Thompson, APHC's CEO, comments: "There are many instances throughout a career in the industry where you will need to produce qualification certificates, such as if you are tendering for work or applying to be on an approved supplier list from a Local Authority.

"Should there be a situation where there is a complaint or where a fault may occur in your work, being able to produce your certificates can help demonstrate that you are competent and qualified to have carried out the work in the first place. If you ever have to make a claim on your public liability policy, you may find that the insurance company will require to see proof of your qualifications before settling."

Replacement certificates can usually be obtained from the awarding body, but an administration fee is charged which is usually around £25 to £45 per certificate.

In a statement to letsrecycle.com, the HSE said: "There is a risk that batteries can cause fires when they are disposed of, particularly when mixed in with other domestic waste materials. Local authorities usually provide separate arrangements for collecting old batteries.

"HSE would urge members of the public to safely dispose of batteries at recycling points. Disposing of batteries in waste collections can lead to the risk of injury to refuse workers and members of the public from fires and explosions."

The full article from LetsRecycle.com can be found here: http://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/hse-public-use-battery-recycling/