Solving the Skilled Labour Crisis with Vepps Pre-Plumbed IPS Solutions

The urgent need for skilled labour in the construction industry has become a pressing challenge, leading to the UK’s decrease in future infrastructure and economic landscape. Product ingenuity and collaborative innovation are more important than ever in reaching a long-term solution for the industry's continued skill decline.

Why the UK Construction Sector Is Facing a Labour Crisis.

According to Construction Products Association’s Summer 2024 Construction Industry Forecast, there are 347,000 fewer skilled workers in the UK compared to 2019, a continued decline that predates the pandemic. The spike in employment in the 50-64 age range in UK construction workers, paired with the effects of COVID-19, has caused an acceleration in early retirement trends. As this generation retires, there aren’t enough young workers to replace them, leading to the CPA predicting a total loss of around one-quarter of the total workforce in the next 10-15 years.

Difficulty attracting a new age of skilled labourers. 

With the construction workforce aging faster than younger generations entering industries to replace them, the decline in skilled labour shows no real promise of improvement.  Shifting career preferences among younger generations have altered the labour market landscape, as the number of 16-24 year olds entering labour training schemes is less than a quarter of its level in 2007, according to Turner & Townsend.

Young professionals report lacking the correct skills to progress into long-term careers, as well as being put off by manual work and lack of encouragement by education leaders onto a path in the industry. 

The Real Impact of the Skills Gap on Project Delivery.

This lack of precision and skill stands to compromise the quality of labour work, causing long-term implications for the functionality and safety of construction projects. According to SME Insights Report, one in five tradespeople have had to turn down or postpone work because they don’t have the staff to complete the job. As active construction jobs take longer to complete, projects are delayed with detrimental effects on the investment to the UK’s future infrastructure plans.

Addressing these shortages is not just about filling vacancies but building a resilient long-term solution. Innovative methods of producing products that reduce the need for lengthy onsite manual labour have the potential to drive economic growth in an increasingly demanding construction landscape.

How Pre-Plumbed IPS Panels Cut Costs and Labour Time. 

Modern construction methods that require less labour output than traditional onsite washroom installations can save hugely on time and cost resources, as well as issues that may arise in miscommunication or coordinating multiple labourers.

Integrated Plumbing Systems (IPS) provides a simple, fast, and stress-free washroom installation system that can be installed in half of the time of traditional panels, minimising the need for specialist skills and onsite skilled labour methods.

What is IPS and How Does It Work?

Integrated Plumbing Systems (IPS) are a panel and frame system used in washrooms to conveniently conceal all plumbing and pipework within a void that sits behind the cubicle or wall panelling.

Pre-plumbed systems are delivered as ready-made units, complete with factory-fitted sanitaryware that is pre-tested before arriving at the site. This provides the project site with systems that are faster and easier to install and gives the end user added peace of mind knowing they are less reliant on the labourer's skill level or experience.

IPS is used across multiple washroom products including toilets, urinals, wall-mounted basins, washtroughs and showers to provide an all-in-one solution that is secured into duct spaces for the washroom users' safety and easy ongoing maintenance.

7 Reasons to Choose Venesta’s Pre-Plumbed Vepps Systems.

At Venesta our ground-breaking pre-plumbed panelling system, Vepps, was the industry's first precision-engineered IPS solution which ensures the metal-framed panels are supplied to your exact measurements. Benefits of our bespoke Vepps system include:

1. Reduced costs.
   Proven to be more cost-effective over the whole project lifecycle, Vepps reduces installation and delivery costs, as well as the cost of additional services by eliminating the need for onsite skilled labour.
2. Installation speed.
   Onsite installation of Vepps is 50% faster than plain panel alternatives, thanks to the system being delivered ready-made, resulting in reduced hours required on the project site.
3. High quality and compliant.
   All system elements are pre-plumbed, installed and tested at our factory to ensure functionality and the highest quality output. Vepps can be configured with healthcare-compliant sanitaryware to meet specifications including HTM 64 and HBN guidelines, making it suitable for NHS and clinical environments. We also offer a 10-year guarantee to provide further peace of mind knowing these washroom solutions can stand the test of time.
4. Easy ongoing maintenance.
   Vepps ensures plumbing is secured in duct spaces behind panels, which can be accessed with no manual handling thanks to our 90-degree linear-bearing hinged panels, allowing simple and safe ongoing maintenance.
5. Enhanced security and hygiene.
   Optional panel locks can be specified with our Vepps systems which can only be opened with a glazier lifting tool, protecting it from potential damage by keeping them out of the way of washroom users. Concealing internal pipework behind smooth panels also makes washroom cleaning easier with less hard to-reach areas and improves infection control by reducing dirt traps where bacteria can grow.
6. Endless design opportunities.
   Vepps panels are available in a multitude of hardwearing materials to suit any dry or wet environment, as well as our extensive laminate colour and veneer finishes. Customers can choose from a selection of leading sanitaryware from Ideal Standard, Armitage Shanks and SanCeram, to configure the perfect solution for any washroom setting.
7. Better for the environment.
   Our pre-plumbed system with sanitaryware delivered to the site pre-fitted, paired with fewer tradesmen required on-site to deliver separate parts, allows us to reduce overall emissions and deliver our Vepps systems using 90% less packaging.

Supporting Specifiers with Expert Advice and Resources

Vepps delivers a robust, pre-plumbed washroom solution that’s adaptable for commercial washroom projects across all sectors, from education and leisure, to retail and healthcare.

For healthcare environments in particular, Vepps is an ideal choice. It supports infection control, simplifies maintenance, and can be configured to meet NHS guidelines and healthcare compliance standards, including HTM 64 and HBN specifications.

Our dedicated Specification Managers have a deep understanding of washroom design trends and compliance requirements. If you need assistance choosing from our range of to suit any setting, they’re on hand to help you choose the right IPS products for your project and budget.

Get in touch with a member of the team. 

In the meantime, you can visit our Technical Library to access brochures, CAD blocks, datasheets and more to help you plan your project.

Get in touch with a member of the team to discuss your ongoing or future washroom projects by calling 01474 353333, emailing marketing@venesta.co.uk to by completing this form.

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