INDUSTRY UNLOCKED

In a move to fill the skills gap , this summer the UK government added five construction jobs to the shortage occupation list , including bricklayers and plasterers . These roles are now given more relaxed eligibility criteria for sponsored work visa applications , such as a lower salary threshold . Co-founder of The Shore Group , Lewis Yorke-Johnson , explains how , although this will be welcomed by the industry , it will be important to ensure every worker is fully compliant .

Launched last month , the enhanced software enables construction contractors to view complete worker compliance information in real-time , providing much-needed insight and management information . Not only will The Shore Group Portal strengthen the safety of all labour on-site , but it also enhances corporate compliance of main contractors throughout their supply chain . time . Ensuring every worker is fully compliant is a crucial step for site safety , to comply with HRMC guidelines and to protect against risks , including modern slavery .

Compliance checks involve multiple types of ID , proof of right to work and skills documentation to provide evidence that workers are safe and legal to work . In theory , each individual check should be simple to complete . However , ineligible workers and unscrupulous labour suppliers can seek to circumvent these checks with incomplete or fake documentation . This creates a significant risk for the whole supply chain as enforcement action can be taken by HMRC and other government agencies for all parties involved .

Major UK construction projects routinely require hundreds of workers from multiple contractors and labour suppliers to be on-site at any one

And with migrant workers often comprising over 50 % of the workforce , documents that need to be checked come from multiple different countries .

Photo credit : HongBo Chen

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