The construction industry was hit hard by the recession, with records showing that in December 2008 activity in the sector shrank at its fastest pace since records began. Yet, despite this, a survey last year by the Chartered Institute of Building revealed that 77 per cent of those working in the industry believed there was a skills shortage. The issue is not new to the industry. Attracting graduates, competing with more attractive industries and finding talent with specific skills from an already limited pool have long been problematic. So it was clear that, if Costain were to remain competitive in such a challenging environment, we were going to have to do something pretty special to plug the skills gap ourselves. We knew that the company, and the industry as a whole, needed more project managers and, in turn, future leaders. Project managers are crucial to ensuring that a project is delivered on time and within budget. They require the right combination of skills to manage a complex web of stakeholders effectively, while consistently delivering top-quality results to customers.