A BUILDING services company says it is being forced to turn away lucrative contracts because of a shortage of bricklayers.

Brickwork Services Ltd, an award-winning company that started in 2004 and is based in Hartlepool, is doing all it can to train local apprentices and the unemployed – as well as qualified bricklayers – so that it can continue to expand.

Once qualified, it claims they could have the opportunity to earn considerably more than the £1,000 per week recently quoted for Portugese bricklayers working in London.

The company, which expanded last year thanks to an investment from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE), the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary, already provides work for more than 130 bricklayers on contracts across the North East.

Steve Willis, managing director, said: “The construction sector has been growing fast and all the signs are that there will be further massive growth in 2015. We are starting major contracts on eight new sites in January alone and just one of our clients is expecting to have more than 20 new sites established in the first half of the year.

"We expect others to follow suit and we have been struggling to find the skilled workers we need for some time. We are doing everything we can to find skilled bricklayers but also to attract apprentices, the unemployed, Army personnel coming back into civilian life or anyone looking to learn a skill that will bring them a good financial reward for their hard work.

“We have some bricklayers currently earning considerably more than £1000 a week so it is a real opportunity for the individual and an ideal situation for us if we can expand our skilled team by creating job opportunities for local people and grow the business further.”

Through a partnership with NCT Training, Brickwork Services provides on-site training for apprentices and currently has 22 working.

Its clients include Gentoo, Southdale Homes, Derestreet Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Keepmoat Homes and the Esh Group. It has contracts worth millions of pounds, guaranteeing work for the next few years, and has also established Pro-Active Safety Solutions, a separate company that provides consultancy and training.

Last year, UKSE gave the company a £50,000 unsecured loan towards a £100,000 expansion project that created 40 jobs.

“That investment was very important.” said Mr Willis. “We had found it impossible to get the finance we needed from other sources – no one was interested because, despite our very healthy order book, we are involved in the construction sector. We are now growing so fast that we are likely to be looking for further investment so that we can continue to expand.”

Brickwork Services is on 07970 710 592 and at brickworkservicesltd.co.uk