The recruitment industry needs to do more to educate customers and candidates about the different kinds of services on offer from contingency recruiters and specialist search and selection firms, according to Hertfordshire-based recruiter Toby Turner.

The construction industry specialist and managing director of Holtby Turner told Recruiter: "It is symptomatic of the market conditions in the construction sector that candidates are getting fed up of approaches from recruitment agencies.

"Some people are getting around 10 calls a day from contingency recruiters and therefore they won't talk to us. Clients and customers need to be able to differentiate between the different types of recruitment agencies, and the different opportunities on offer."

However, he said the apprehension of candidates towards agencies is a double-edged sword for his company. "Once we prove to them that we have a very different model and method of recruitment and that it isn't all about the numbers they become interested and excited."

Turner said the construction industry is acting to ease the skills shortage. More contractors are offering flexible benefits packages, allowing their staff to put their families on health schemes, buy or sell holidays, and so on, said Turner.

These skills shortages have meant "companies are also taking people from outside the industry and there has been a sudden increase in firms willing to pay people to go on accredited courses".

Other changes affecting Turner's placements — pointing to an even greater need for client and candidate contact — are contractors wishing to relocate away from their London hubs.