BSRIA understands that government has made favourable offers to the EU on the status of such citizens working in the UK and that Brussels is now considering the issue.

A year on from the vote to leave the EU the chief issue still to be resolved is the situation of EU nationals currently living and working in the UK – estimates suggest almost 200,000 work in the construction industry. Such workers make up eight per cent of the construction workforce and this rises to 25% in London.

There is already a frightful shortage of skilled labour – not only in the short or medium term – but in the long term too. And the cost of getting buildings built has hurtled upwards.

BSRIA calls on government to consider and protect the construction industry’s current foreign-born workers. And we need to reassure EU staff already resident in the UK that they are welcome and valued. We trust that government will make every effort to ensure that they can stay, whatever the outcome of the negotiations.

Any uncertainty in the negotiations with possible tough migration rules, could result in it becoming harder for industry to bring in EU staff.

Indeed, the Immigration Bill, was outlined in last week’s Queens Speech where it was highlighted that industry certainly needs to be able to attract the ‘brightest and the best’ employees.

BSRIA has repeatedly said that the construction industry needs access to a skilled global workforce – especially from the EU. With the current housing shortage crisis – we need a workforce with the right skills to build homes, therefore, a fluid and skilled labour market is vital.

This Bill was positive for those EU nationals already living and working in the UK. Many such nationals are employed by the industry throughout the length and breadth of the country. Industry needs these essential workers, so arrangements to make their lives smooth in the UK was encouraging.