ACE announces plans to improve construction recruitment

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has revealed its plans to work with the government and trade associations to improve property and construction recruitment agencies.

Making the announcement after the body's report criticised the conduct of agencies, the ACE's policy and operations director Scott Parkhouse told Recruiter magazine that leaders in construction need to work together to create better recruitment services.

The survey, entitled Skills Shortages and Recruitment Agency Behaviours, also found that the biggest shortages in the construction trade were in sectors including project management and electrical and civil engineering.

Mr Parkhouse said: "The survey has flagged up concerns in the sector that we, the CBI, the government and trade associations need to work together to address, so that everyone is providing the right service to the construction industry."

The call for construction recruitment to be improved has come after the Learning and Skills council granted £17 million to improve the National Construction College in Norfolk.

Based at Bircham Newton, the college was under threat of closure earlier this year before the local community appealed against such action.