Responding to new research highlighting the worsening installer skills gap, Wilsonart’s George Emms argues that the industry should be using existing technology to “get more out of the workforce we already have”.
Emms, who is Wilsonart’s specification leader for the UK & Ireland, said: “Training the next generation of installers is absolutely vital if we’re going to close the widening age gap in the profession. But we also need to be realistic about how long it takes to not just learn specialist skills, but to truly master them to the level modern construction projects demand.”
The installer age gap has long been an impending problem for the KBB industry, with Connie Collett, the senior leader of apprenticeship schemes at Wickes, warning that 50% of the UK’s kitchen and bathroom fitters are supposedly due to retire before 2029.
According to the latest BiKBBI research released earlier this month, three quarters of installers are now aged 45 and over, with CEO Damian Walters saying the skills crisis is clearly “deepening and worsening” with each passing year.
Addressing the crisis, Emms continued: “I’m confident that new installers will reach those standards, but in the meantime, we need to explore how existing, easy-to-use technologies can help us get more out of the workforce we already have.
“For example, advances in engineered surface technologies – specifically around dry-fit or interlocking designs – have been shown to help alleviate pressures around installation by eliminating the need for grout, adhesives and complex tools. These surfaces can be quickly fitted by generalist tradespeople, reducing reliance on specialists that, as the BiKBBI’s findings demonstrate, will soon begin to age out of the existing installer workforce.”
Emms also argued that: “Smarter materials and systems aren’t here to replace skilled tradespeople. But they can help us make better use of the skilled labour we do have. For example, the £39 billion the Government committed to social and affordable homes in the latest Spending Review was clearly welcome, but with it comes increased pressure to deliver more projects efficiently despite ongoing labour shortages.”
He concluded: “This extra money won’t mean much at all if we don’t have the workforce to install the specialist components manufacturers produce for these new buildings. By adopting technologies that streamline installation and reduce the need for skilled personnel, we can avoid delays and keep critical projects moving while we continue to train and support the next generation of installers.”
