Staff shortages are a hurdle construction companies in the East Midlands will need to overcome in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Paul Ross, director of East Midlands' recruitment agency Barker Ross, said that although the region’s construction sector would undoubtedly benefit from the Olympics, contractors should be considering their future labour requirements now.

Paul, who is also East Midlands' director of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, added: "There is no doubt that the 2012 Olympics will bring many opportunities for the construction sector both in our region and nationally.

"However, construction projects being undertaken in the capital could result in staff shortages as contractors hire workers from the East Midlands.

"For this reason, companies need to allow for future reductions in their staffing numbers and talk to agencies such as Barker Ross which specialise in supplying workers to the construction sector and its related industries."

Barker Ross representatives were among 160 delegates from a wide range of construction related organisations who attended the 2012 Construction Commitments event at the PERA Centre in Melton Mowbray recently.

The event was the fifth in a series of 12 such national presentations which form part of a campaign spearheaded by the Strategic Forum 2012 Task Group to connect with industry in preparation for the London Olympics.

Construction Commitments’ main focus is on six key areas vital to delivering the Games’ vision on time, safely and within budget.