CAREERS | HAYS SALARY SURVEY Bridge over troubled water Uncertainty over Brexit has not dented the confidence of the building services sector. Above-average pay rises and a continuing skills shortage mean adventurous engineers still have many opportunities to explore. David Blackman reports O ptimism is running high in building services, despite the wider economic uncertainties surrounding Brexit. Thats the key finding of the latest CIBSE Journal salary guide, compiled by Hays Building Services. The recruitment consultancys annual survey of building services employers shows that 97% expect business activity levels to increase or stay the same over the next 12 months. While this is marginally lower than the unanimous confidence expressed this time last year, nearly two-thirds (61%) of firms are planning for increased activity. Nearly as many (59%) report optimism about the wider economic climate and the opportunities it may create in the next two to five years higher than the overall figure of 43% for UK employers. The surveys findings are reflected at Black & White Engineering, which has its headquarters in the North East and has seen its turnover double compared with the previous year. Steven Horn, a director of the company, expects growth to be only slightly slower this year. David Stafford, director of S I Sealy, says the firms pipeline of work will keep it very busy for the next 12 months at least: Were busy fools at the moment working our socks off. Peter Sutcliffe, managing director, buildings and places, for London Commercial at Aecom, says: We have been surprised by how much The salary data has been compiled using information gathered during 2018 from Hays ofces across the UK. It is based on job listings, job offers and candidate registrations. The recruiting trends are based on the survey ndings of almost 23,000 employers and employees. www.cibsejournal.com February 2019 63 CIBSE Feb19 pp63-66 Salary Survery Supp.indd 63 25/01/2019 16:01