Plumbers, carpenters and electricians are as scarce as gold dust, but Tristan Prior is raising an army of them to keep the building projects of South West England and South Wales on track.
Tristan, 25, is manager of the newest branch of the Hill McGlynn Trades recruitment agency, which "went live" in Bristol this month
His mission has been to create a core workforce of construction-related trades, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers and labourers.
An advertising campaign, personal contacts and visits to sites have already attracted a force of skilled people whose qualifications and references have been checked and whose performance is regularly monitored.
Construction companies in five English counties and in Wales as far west as Swansea are using Hill McGlynn to solve the chronic skills shortages that are slowing progress on many building sites.
The addition of a trades business into the existing Hill McGlynn Technical branch, which has been recruiting technical staff for the construction industry, such as Contracts Managers and Quantity Surveyors since 1998, serves to further strengthen Hill McGlynns presence and services in the South West and South Wales.
"Its a great arrangement," said Tristan. "Many of the technical staff in companies which are looking for trades people have themselves been recruited through Hill McGlynn, so they know how we work."
Hill McGlynn last year became one of the UKs top three construction recruitment agencies after merging with the Leeds-based Team Up Workforce UK. Its headquarters are in Southampton, with offices in 13 UK centres.
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Notes to editors:
For more information contact Tristan Prior on 01489 778 800 or marketing manager Penny Glazzard on 01489 560 030