Trade bodies are warning that the industry is facing a ‘cliff edge’ in terms of skills shortages.

Their Construction Industry Brexit Manifesto calls for a two-year transition period during which EU building workers should have the guarantee of settled status in the UK.

It also wants to see a post-Brexit migration system based on key occupations that are in short supply rather than arbitrary thresholds based on skill levels or income.

Industry leaders are vowing to do more to recruit and train additional UK workers to reduce future reliance on migrant labour.

But for the forseeable future “there will likely remain an ongoing need for significant levels of skilled EU workers.”

To view a full copy of the manifesto click here