Contract engineers are set to experience a boost in demand for their skills in the workforce now that engineering companies are seeking to rebuild their businesses. During the recession, many engineering businesses lost vital skills and resources due to the cutbacks that they had to make.

The Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has estimated that there are approximately 55,000 engineers, both contract and freelance in the United Kingdom. The organisation is keen to focus on the skilled engineers who make up a large percentage of the UK’s 1.4 million contract and freelance workers as part of its Brain Gain initiative.

A new guide has been published by the PCG detailing how freelancers and businesses can work together and contains information on several areas of the contracting process, such as how to choose the most suited freelancer for the job, how to draw up contracts and invaluable advice on building a good relationship between the contractors and the business.

A contract engineer for three years, Russell Watkins said:

“Confidence in the industry is slowly returning and those firms which had to make cutbacks to survive are now lacking the vital skills and resources they were forced to let go. Now they are calling on freelancers to fill that gap and it is important that the process and communication is right for the projects we are briefed to undertake.”

The MD of PCG, John Brazier has said that he believes that businesses will continue to seek the skills and resources of contract engineers as the contractors offer greater flexibility to businesses.

As the demand for contract engineers looks set to rise, umbrella companies could also see a demand for their services, especially as there could be new legislation for contractors to comply with following the General Election on 6th May. A reputable umbrella company will be aware of any changes made to legislation, such as IR35 legislation, and can advise contractors appropriately.