Labour division bridges the skills gap
Labour division bridges the skills gap
The 'skills gap' is a term often heard around the highways sector, as there are less and less skilled workers available for hire.
With numbers dwindling, companies are under increased pressure with their pricing, as this skills gap means the price of skilled labour increases, and companies are often forced to put their prices up with it.
Obviously, this isn't what their customer wants to hear.
MAC Surfacing are working to close the skills gap and bring more skilled workers into the industry by bringing apprentices into the company and upskilling from within.
The apprenticeships offer a route into an established company for the employee with a clear pathway to becoming a fully qualified and skilled worker set up for a career within the industry. MAC then get to develop somebody the MAC way, instilling their values and methods.
MAC's labour hire division provides skilled surfacing gangs, plant operatives and surfacing operatives, many of who have been developed in-house.
The company's in-house training means the entire industry can benefit from an increased number of skilled workers from a leading company.
MAC's head of Labour Supply, Stewart Jones told us:
"Our surfacing labour division currently holds around 60 staff and we're always expanding the team. We've brought in over 10 apprentices in just the last 5 years and we're not looking to slow down on that front.
"The industry needs to bridge this skills gap, so we're doing all we can to bring new, young people in. Backed up with our internal trainer, we really can provide sustainable employment opportunities for young people."
Marc Copson, MAC Director added:
"As we strive to be the complete surfacing solution, we are continually looking to bring in apprentices to MAC to train, develop and produce a high quality, skilled workforce.
"This means we can then further benefit the industry by not only supplying vehicles, plant and machinery- but also the skilled labour to operate it."
