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Leading members of the UK's construction sector will meet in Dundee today to view a groundbreaking new project set to attract thousands of young applicants to the UK's biggest industry, which needs 348,000 new recruits by 2010.

Industry Spotlight, created by JAB Media IN association WITH Stewart Milne GROUP, RMJM, Mansell, AND Robertson GROUP, IS a website AND contemporary series OF careers DVDs aimed AT secondary school, college AND university graduates. The initiative will emphasise career opportunities within the industry. IN addition TO the support FROM the construction industry, JAB has received backing FROM the Scottish Executive Strategy FOR enterprise IN education, 'Determined to Succeed'.

The launch will take place IN front OF construction representatives AS well AS LOCAL school pupils, members FROM the education sector AND Scottish Executive, AT Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee, AT 11:45 hrs ON Thursday 31st May 2007.

Keynote speaker AT the event, Stewart Milne, chairman AND chief executive OF the Stewart Milne GROUP, will introduce the new film, which IS called Industry Spotlight Construction. School pupils FROM Dundee, Angus, Perth, Fife AND Aberdeen, who ARE also attending the presentation, will be given the opportunity TO speak WITH LEADING members OF the industry AS well AS the chance TO try out the new construction web site facility www.industryspotlight.org.uk.

It IS forecast that 348,000 MORE employees will be needed FOR the UK construction industry by 2010 TO meet expected demand, an average OF 87,000 new recruits per YEAR. IN 2005, total construction employment IN Scotland was 206,3440, which IS expected TO rise by 18% TO 243,230 by 2011, requiring an extra 6,830 workers each YEAR.

According TO a SET OF reports by the Construction Skills Network, the UK's biggest industry will have 2.8 million workers by 2010, with Scotland providing 8.6% of UK construction employment by 2011. Average employment growth for 2007-2011 is 8%, compared to the UK average of 9.3%, with growth just slightly higher among trades than professionals.

Recognising this opportunity, Dundee based JAB Media - the firm behind the Industry Spotlight Series - decided to address the challenge by raising awareness of the industry as a whole and have added Construction as the second Industry to be under the spotlight in the series.

"Skills shortages are the major issues for the construction industry at present. We understand that there is no quick fix to the problem and the awareness has to start from an early age. The foresight of the four major investors is quite staggering and they should be applauded by their peers for using there own money to benefit the industry as a whole," comments Andrew Ramsay, managing director of JAB.

Industry Spotlight Construction is the second in the series of DVD's - the FIRST focused ON the energy industry - WITH the third film already underway, which will look AT the financial sector. Industry Spotlight Energy IS currently being piloted IN English schools AND will shortly be rolled out internationally, starting off IN Norway AND Canada.

Unlike ANY OF its competitors, Industry Spotlight has received backing FROM the country's education authorites, ensuring that the DVD's will be shown throughout schools IN Scotland.

The DVD IS a guide TO careers stretching across the industry featuring CASE studies OF young professionals working FOR Stewart Milne GROUP, RMJM, Mansell, AND Robertson GROUP. The exciting stories will appeal TO every LEVEL OF applicant - ranging FROM school leavers TO university graduates.

George Hood, managing director, OF Mansell, Scotland, said: "Mansell takes an industry leading approach to the training and development of its people across all disciplines and levels throughout Scotland, highlighting that we must ensure that the construction industry is fully equipped to satisfy future needs."

Paul Stallon, UK design director, RMJM, comments: "It's important to encourage young people to consider architecture and design as a career path, Scotland needs more than ever to contribute and compete both locally and internationally in world of design. The currency of Scotland's future is ideas and without doubt a dynamic creative industry is central to the country's success.

"The New Scottish Parliament states that 'Scotland is the best Small Country in the World'. TO fully substantiate this claim AND maintain a world status AND appeal Scotland has TO be increasing MORE design led AND supportive OF creative business."

Bill Robertson, Executive Chairman of Robertson Group, added: "I felt it was important FOR Robertson GROUP TO highlight the great diversity OF its ten companies, FOR example AS well AS five traditional construction companies, we also have an investment company, a facilities management company, a homes business, a timberframe manufacturing company AND a property business. AS a modern AND diverse construction GROUP we illustrate the variety OF career opportunities that ARE available within a progressive construction industry. AT Robertson GROUP we CREATE AND build VALUE everyday AND I would encourage students TO investigate the industry AND recognise the VALUE OF building a career IN construction."

by: Editor

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