Commenting on the impact of Carillion’s collapse on its 1,400 apprentices and 20,000 other staff, John Newcomb, Chief Executive of the Builders Merchants Federation said there were great opportunities available for them to move into Britain’s £55 billion Building Materials Industry, which includes merchants and suppliers:
“The Building Materials Industry, which is valued at £55 billion, is growing fast, with most of our members reporting strong growth across 2017 and into this year. This is why I urge those apprentices, and all other Carillion staff working in construction, to look at entering the building materials industry as we’re a sector that is actively looking to recruit and is open for business.
“In all parts of the country, there are many great opportunities for enthusiastic and skilled people to enter our exciting sector. Through our own Apprenticeships Training Agency, and our dedicated recruitment portal, we will be seeking to bring as many former Carillion employees as possible into the sector so that they can further their career in a successful part of the construction sector.”