National draft for civil engineering jobs
A consultant working with the Cumbria council has issued a 'national call' to fill 100 temporary health and safety jobs in the wake of the recent flooding.
Capita Symonds has been placed in charge of the programme which will inspect the 1,800 bridges in Cumbria following last weeks floods which caused massive damage to infrastructure and homes throughout the area. Six level crossings were washed away during the downpour and 1,300 homes were damaged.
The company's associate director, Robin McCartney, said that the firm needed to fill 30-50 bridge engineering job vacancies as well as an equal number of complementary health and safety jobs. The company has called all of its offices throughout the country to ask them to resource trained workers and place them on standby.
"At the moment we have some bridges closed because of structural damage, others because we don't have sufficient information" said McCartney. "We are planning to do the initial investigation before the end of the week and each bridge will open when we feel its safe".
So far, the Government has pledged £2m to assist in the clear-up and reconstruction of the damaged country. However the overall estimated cost, according to Building.co.uk, is around 100% more at £200m.
In related news, the National Federation of Builders has urged insurance firms to stimulate local jobs in construction by appointing local building firms to manage the clear up.
Marie Hill, regional director, said that "the clean up could provide a much needed shot in the arm for the local construction industry" after the damage caused by the recession.