• The evidence to the Inquiry from several experienced sources suggested that there is an increasing shortage of essential skills and/or deskilling in the construction industry which is impacting on its ability to deliver and ensure the required quality of construction.
• Three particular areas were identified where a combination of a lack of funding, lack of appropriate training courses and lack of recognition of the level of requirement has led to serious skills shortages and difficulties in recruitment. The three areas were:
• Bricklaying
• Clerks of Works
• Building Standards Inspectors
• The appropriate authorities should undertake a review of the current level of provision of training in these areas, and any others considered relevant, to ensure that the construction industry has access to an adequate properly trained and qualified resource in each of these areas.