The All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment (APPGEBE) has announced its fifth Inquiry, which will look at the impact of Brexit on future skills needs in the construction industry and the built environment professions.

This subject is of special significance given the reliance of construction on workers from the EU both at a trades and professional level and at a time when construction is already facing a skills shortage.

Can the industry continue to attract sufficient migrant workers from the EU, or can it train enough home grown talent to meet demand? In September a coalition of professional bodies warned Brexit minister David Davis MP that the UK’s construction skills crisis could severely worsen if the Government does not take steps to ensure access to a skilled workforce during its post-referendum negotiations.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment has established its fifth Commission of Inquiry to address this important subject; and is now calling on organisations, businesses and individuals to submit evidence on how the impact of Brexit could potentially impact on the skill pool; what government could do to mitigate this impact and what the industry could be doing itself to increase the talent pool.

The Commission is looking for clear evidence to identify the extent of workers employed from overseas and the benefits they bring to the construction industry and also evidence of schemes that are training and attracting young people into the sector.

The APPG for EBE Commission of Inquiry comprises members of both Houses of Parliament, senior members of the construction professions, key influencers and decision makers in other aspects of society.  

The Commission will be chaired by the APPGEBE Chairman, Oliver Colvile MP and other members will include the Rt Hon Maria Miller MP; Helen Hayes MP;  Earl of Lytton; Lord Best and Peter Bonfield OBE.

Written submissions are requested to be received no later than Friday 25 November 2016. They should be of reasonable length and possess a clear conclusion and recommendations for action and must be accompanied by all relevant appendices. They should be sent electronically to the APPGEBE Secretary, Graham Watts OBE c/o apppginquiry@cic.org.uk

The Commission of Inquiry will examine written submissions and will set up roundtable sessions, at which oral evidence will be presented to the Commission directly. It is hoped that these will give an opportunity for a candid and open discussion, exploring alternative viewpoints and leading to a pragmatic consensus.

Oliver Colvile MP, chair of the APPGEBE said of the inquiry: “On the 23rd of June, the British people voted to leave the EU. One of the key issues in this historic decision was the free movement of people. However, British industry has regularly had to depend upon finding skilled labour from within the European Union. Therefore, it is timely that the APPG for Excellent in the Built Environment looks into the skills gap and how leaving the EU will affect that gap. It is more important than ever in order for the Government to deliver on its pledge to build more houses by the end of this Parliament.”