Addressing the recession

With today's current troubled economic environment, employers are trimming their workforce to meet their reduced order books, and the demolition sector is no different. As a result, there are an increasing number of experienced and fully trained demolition workers finding themselves without employment and looking for another position.

A new free website, officially launched at the end of last week, now offers them the opportunity to advertise their skills and qualifications to potential new employers. The not-for-profit site, www.demolition-jobs.co.uk, is jointly funded by www.demolition news.com and the UK's National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC). According to founder Mark Anthony: "Traditional recruitment websites charge employers to advertise jobs to potential candidates but we wanted to take a different, more altruistic approach. We have effectively turned the recruitment process on its head to provide the demolition industry's unemployed workers with a free medium through which to display their skills, experience and qualifications to prospective employers."

NFDC chief executive Howard Button amplified this: "There is no doubt that the UK demolition industry is on the brink of an unprecedented recession" Indeed, returns from NFDC members concerning financial performance indicate a downturn in business of 25% in 2008 against 2007 as reported at the NFDC annual general meeting last week. Mr Button continued: Through the NFDC and the National Demolition Training Group, we have invested heavily in the people that work within this sector. With our backing of www.demolition-jobs.co.uk, it is our intention to invest in people that used to work and still want to work in this industry and to safeguard valuable demolition jobs by helping people stay within this vital industry.