One of the UKs leading construction recruitment specialists, Hill McGlynn is itself recruiting additional consultants who will be dedicated to providing recruitment solutions to the Civil Engineering sector both in the UK and Internationally. < br / > < br / > With the twelve month rolling total for building orders hitting its lowest level since April 1997 there is evidence that the sector is cooling down after a long period of sustained growth. In contrast the civils sector has seen a surge IN orders generating large increases in demand for civil engineering professionals, fuelling concerns OF a widespread skills shortage and battles to attract the best talent. < br / > < br / > Simon Winfield, Associate Director responsible for Hill McGlynns Professional Services Division believes that such candidate shortages is due to the lack of new blood coming into the industry.
"The number of Civil Engineering graduates has fallen by 50% since 1994 and to make matters worse, many graduates currently studying are not British, consequently they are not permitted to find work here once they have qualified. The shortage will become more acute if the Industry and the Government do not work together to overcome these problems in the longer term".
Winfield cites low graduate salaries as one of the causes of graduate shortage:
"We are generally recruiting experienced personnel, and we have found when we run open days on behalf of high profile clients that we always pull in strong candidates. Candidates know that we work on some of the best civils projects. However, we are aware that graduates, who might other wise been attracted to the industry are being lured by much higher salaries elsewhere, for example IT or Finance".