Majority of Birmingham firms in struggle to fill vacancies

Around three-quarters of Birmingham firms are struggling to fill vacancies as the workplace skills gap grows, a major new business survey has revealed.

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) Economic Survey for the last quarter of 2014 shows that 74 per cent of firms had experienced recruitment difficulties over the previous three months.

It is the highest figure for more than two years and underlines that the region’s skills crisis is undiminished. Over half (55 per cent) of the companies surveyed were attempting to recruit.

Most companies in the survey – supported by recruitment and people development agency Katie Bard – were managing to maintain home and export sales although those who had increased trade in the UK market dropped to 34 per cent compared with 44 per cent a year ago. And 30 per cent, against 46 per cent a year ago, had increased orders.

Exports were slightly better for manufacturers with 37 per cent reporting an increase in sales, compared with 52 per cent 12 months ago, but order books were less full. Thirty-four per cent had increased advance orders, against 49 per cent a year ago.

Greg Lowson, president of Birmingham Chamber, said: “The number of firms looking for skilled labour underlines again what a major challenge this is for the region. The chamber is helping to tackle this issue by joining forces with colleges of further education to create a Skills Hub.

“The launch of CSR City (Corporate Social Responsibility City) in Birmingham gives businesses the opportunity to influence the skills agenda through deeper engagement with schools.

“Through these initiatives we are providing closer links between businesses and colleges to ensure that they are providing the skills so desperately needed as the economy picks up. There is a similar picture among service sector firms, with 61 per cent of the businesses reporting recruitment difficulties.”

David Tomalin, who has been appointed by the chamber to head up the Skills Hub, said: “Our portal helps businesses to access information on skills development, training courses, apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship courses.”