Designing the future

Tom Elliott, Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, has expressed his concern that the current lay-offs by architectural and construction design firms could deprive the country of essential experience necessary to kick-start the construction industry when the current slump has passed.

Mr Elliott said: "Understandably my sympathy goes out firstly to those left unemployed and I am sure they will be most concerned with paying their bills and staying afloat over the next few months, I hope that this will only be a temporary setback in their careers, but I am concerned that if they are forced to find employment elsewhere then they could find it difficult to return to their previous roles as regulations and industry standards continuously evolve, risking the chance of being left behind and resulting in their talents being lost when the economy turns around.

"It is regrettable that projects such as the new Police College have went to overseas firms, but if the drain of expertise is allowed to continue this could become more common. I would encourage all Government departments and Northern Ireland businesses to start planning for the future now and support their local design firms, a small investment now can prepare the way to take full advantage of better days to come, and secure some jobs in the sector.

"I have also contacted Sir Reg Empey, the Minister for Employment and Learning to ask what opportunities exist for additional training and professional development that would encourage architects, technicians, engineers, etc. to make use of these courses and those provided within the industry itself in preparation to re-enter the profession on a stronger footing in brighter days to come".

According to the Royal Society of Ulster Architects their members have reduced employment levels by over 20% in the last year with Fermanagh and Tyrone believed to be the worst hit part of the country. If this is spread across the whole sector, including engineers, technicians and surveyors, then thousands of highly educated and skilled workers are no longer employed in the industry they have spent year studying for, most would say it takes at least 5 years to gain competence in any of these roles.

The vast majority of architectural, surveying, engineering and other related careers are either self-employed or in firms of under 10 people, where job losses do not make the headlines.