I WRITE in response to the letters from your readers about the shortage of skilled workers in the construction trade (February 17).
As a small contractor, I say the only way we can address the crisis is to encourage more small contractors to take on the responsibility and later, rewards, of recruiting both young and older apprentices.
I know from experience that many tradesmen are frightened by the prospect of taking on a person and training them.
The expense and the paperwork alone can be very daunting.
To add to this discouraging situation is the housing crisis. We shall need more tradesmen to maintain the growing number of new houses.
Unfortunately, the problem is not going to get any better so it is up to us, the small contractors, to take the plunge and commit ourselves to new apprentices.
Yes, it's hard work, but we need more people in the trades.
In the end it will be very rewarding, both to us and the country.
John Hale,
Plumbing and tiling contractors,
Abbey Street,
York.
Updated: 10:00 Thursday, February 26, 2004
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