Kier recently hosted an exclusive preview of ‘Open Doors 2024’, a Build UK initiative which takes young people and those looking for a change of career behind the site hoardings to experience construction first-hand. A group of students from Fulham Cross Academy were given an exclusive insight into what a career in construction might look like as they toured Kier’s Refinery development at ARC West London, in Hammersmith and put their questions to the team. Refinery is the landmark high spec lab development which will provide a new home for UK life science organisations. The Considerate Constructors Scheme-registered site located on the Northern Embankment of the River Thames will create flexible laboratories and will create job opportunities within science and research-based specialisms, together with many facilities including cycle facilities for 200 bicycles and a new communal park integrating with the Thames Path. Kier has partnered with Build UK to open up a number of construction sites for next year’s Open Doors event, which will run across the country from Monday 13 – Saturday 18 March 2024. A wide range of organisations will be taking part, offering site visits across the UK, with projects ranging from tunnels to skyscrapers, as well as offices, factories, and other facilities to demonstrate the off-site roles across the sector. At the event on 9 November, the students studying construction and DT at the STEM specialist school in Fulham heard from six apprentices currently on emerging talent programmes within Kier. Programmes include Level 2 – 3 apprenticeships, Degree apprenticeships and Graduate schemes. Lina Othman – graduate design manager, Morgan Ford – CSR graduate, Daniel O’Connor – apprentice quantity surveyor, Teopista Nakitende – construction management degree apprentice, Vinoth Krishnasamy, graduate site manager and Alexis Ezekiel-Hart – apprentice site manager, all talked through their career experiences, showcasing the vast variety of roles and skills needed to contribute to the successful delivery of construction projects.  Louisa Finlay, Kier Group’s chief people officer said: “The construction industry is vital to the UK economy and provides so many different roles and opportunities for people from all walks of life. Open Doors is a great initiative and Kier is proud to partner with Build UK to showcase the different careers on offer.  It was great to share my own experiences of working in the sector for 35 years and listen to students who attended today’s event about their career aspirations, some of whom are already starting their training on construction-related courses.” Julie White, Build UK chair and managing director of D-Drill (Master Drillers) Ltd added: “Having grown up visiting construction sites with my father, I know what a difference seeing our industry in action makes. Open Doors is a unique opportunity for young people and those looking for a change of career to go behind the scenes of sites and other workplaces up and down the country and see what a career in construction looks like. Sites like Kier’s Refinery are a great example of how a diverse and talented team of people come together to deliver something special, and I would encourage the whole construction supply chain to follow their lead and open their doors next March to inspire the next generation to choose a career in our fantastic industry!” During the week-long programme of events for Open Doors 2024, visitors will get a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the fantastic range of careers available in construction, including thousands of apprenticeship places. In addition to familiar site-based roles, many of the positions available are based externally, with companies able to showcase their back-office support network, front-of-house sales teams, and cutting-edge technical roles. Almost 100 events are already registered for visitors to explore throughout Open Doors Week and booking will open on the Open Doors website on 8 January 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

West Yorkshire Colleges, including Leeds College of Building, have been successful in securing £6.9 million from the Department for Education to digitise teaching and learning in key sectors.  The funding is part of the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) and will launch a West Yorkshire digital innovation project led by colleges. The project will support colleges and partners to build capacity to meet local skills priorities that were identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), launched by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in August.  Working through the consortium, colleges and partners will collaborate for maximum impact. They will develop current and new digitised training provision and curriculum for key industries.  The colleges will open specialist hubs and academies offering high level curriculum using immersive and digital technology and Artificial Intelligence.  The capital investment will include equipment and resources needed to use virtual reality, augmented reality, Artificial Intelligence and robotics to equip colleges with the means to develop relevant and in-demand skills.  The funding has been split into six key areas with investment for digital innovation in: ·       construction, ·       creative industries,  ·       health and social care,  ·       advanced manufacturing,  ·       Financial technology (Fintech), ·       the wider digital development of teaching and learning.  Each area will be led by a West Yorkshire college that will lead the innovation, host the digital hub and share experience and knowledge and develop teaching and learning across all colleges.  Project Director of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges, Joanne Patrickson said,  “This is a fantastic opportunity for the region to advance the skills needed in technology to keep up with industry changes. Not only will the funding of new equipment help to improve the learning experience in colleges, the collaboration between our partners will grow the skills and knowledge of the teaching staff who can deliver relevant training to the current and future workforce.” The West Yorkshire colleges benefiting from the funding include Leeds College of Building,  Bradford College, Calderdale College, Kirklees College, Luminate Education Group (Leeds City College and Keighley College), Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, and Shipley College. Leeds College of Building has been awarded funding for the development of new specialist hubs for digital skills within the construction industry to meet the demands in the area for diverse skilled workers. This will also include funding for mobile digital hubs across the region with AI technology and VR/AR equipment.  Nikki Davis, Principal and CEO of Leeds College of Building said:  “We are delighted to be awarded this funding to help support local people to access high quality provision, with industry leading facilities.  The focus on digital construction will provide opportunities for employers and future employees to develop vital skills.”   Over the course of the project approximately 5,000 learners will benefit from around 100 new courses, with over 7,000 learners using the new equipment purchased with LSIF capital funds. Over 700 college staff will benefit from CPD activities.  The project runs until March 2025 and is part of the Government’s drive to transform skills training so that more people can secure good jobs close to home. Read the Department for Education’s announcement press release. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Cavanna Homes is investing in training the next generation of homebuilders in the construction industry, teaching vital skills to on-site and office staff as part of the homebuilder’s commitment to nurturing talent. Under the leadership of People & Culture Manager, Sophie Aylott, who joined Cavanna Homes earlier this year, the firm is recruiting new apprentices to join its latest qualifiers. Richard Penhaligon started his IT apprenticeship in 2022 and has now qualified and is working as an IT Assistant at the homebuilder’s Torquay head office. Katie Moore and Matt Churchill are due to complete their apprenticeships in HR and Quantity Surveying later this year and both have been offered full-time positions to continue building their careers with Cavanna Homes. Sophie said: “Encouraging the next generation to consider a career in construction and nurturing talent is vital to ensuring we have the skills and people in place to ensure we can continue building high-quality, new homes into our next century. “As a regional recruiter, we’re proud to offer and support alternative routes into homebuilding to create equal opportunities for all our staff and encourage young adults to explore the opportunities available to them.” Rebecca Carruthers, who joined Cavanna Homes as a Site Operative before being promoted to Trainee Assistant Site Manager, has now completed her NHBC Level 4 Management course. She is now working at the firm’s Equinox III development in Exeter as an Assistant Site Manager. Rebecca is now using her experience to encourage other women to consider construction as a career. She said: “From the building site to the boardroom – there are so many different and exciting roles available to women within the construction and homebuilding industry. I want to help highlight these to change the common misconception that working in construction is only about being on-site. “There are so many training schemes and entry-level roles available now, so women should feel empowered and confident to apply and try their hand at a new skill. That’s exactly what I did and I haven’t looked back since.” This year’s apprentices will gain first-hand work experience and mentoring from Cavanna Homes’ skilled teams while also attending college to gain an NVQ. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

After more than 1,000 registrations and 17 regional heats, the top construction trainees from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been named as competitors at the SkillBuild National Final 2023. SkillBuild is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and showcases some of the brightest talent in construction. The prestigious competition brings together highly skilled learners and apprentices to battle it out to be crowned winner of their chosen trade. Following the regional heats, which took place this summer, the final will see the top eight highest scoring competitors from each category compete. For the first time, this year’s final will be held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England on 21, 22 & 23 November 2023. The arena has previously played host to the National Badminton Championships, major darts tournaments and various music concerts, and will now see 80 of the best construction trainees demonstrate their expertise. Across the three days competitors will be tasked with constructing a project designed by an expert panel of judges, within an 18-hour timeframe. The project will test the individual’s knowledge and skills, as well as their ability to work under pressure, ensuring they adhere to health and safety protocols. Members of the public are invited to attend the competition to both observe and try their hand at a range of activities at the designated careers experience hub, the Construction Showcase. Visitors can test their hand-eye coordination skills at the decorating station, build their own bird box at the woodworking station, or even get involved with virtual reality games and simulators. There will also be an opportunity for visitors to attend Continual Professional Development sessions, which will be hosted by the expert panel of judges across all 10 trade categories. CITB’s latest Construction Skills Network (CSN) report states that almost 225,000 extra workers will be required to meet UK construction demand by 2027. It also highlights that construction is expected to remain a sector where there is demand for workers, despite the current economic uncertainty. SkillBuild is a fantastic opportunity to alter common misconceptions of the industry and promote the diverse range of roles available. Mike Burdett, SkillBuild bricklaying judge, said: “The competition is a fantastic way for young people to showcase their skills and talents, it never ceases to amaze me the commitment and dedication they show to their craft. “As a judge we are looking to find the best of the best, testing their knowledge and skill levels through the test project. Every millimetre of inaccuracy costs the competitors points, but this is also set against a time pressure, making it even more challenging for them. Not only do they need to be accurate, but they also need to plan and review their work constantly to meet the demanding deadlines.” Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to be hosting this year’s SkillBuild National Final at the Marshall Arena, providing us with the opportunity to invite members of the public to observe the incredible talent coming through to industry. SkillBuild is a wonderful initiative which aims to attract a diverse range of recruits, and with the current skills gap, it places even greater importance on the competition and its ability to promote construction careers to a wider audience. “SkillBuild not only helps young people to grow personally, increasing their confidence and social skills, but it’s also proven to assist them professionally by developing their technical and employability skills. While a challenging experience, if you’re serious about a career in construction, SkillBuild is an excellent opportunity. I wish all our National Finalists the best of luck, and we look forward to seeing you in November!” CITB would like to thank all the fantastic sponsors of this year’s SkillBuild, which include: British Gypsum, Crown Paints, BAL Adhesives, NFRC, TARMAC, SPAX, Schluter, Weber, The Tile Association, Nicobond, Stabila, The Keystone Group, Forterra, tesa, Tilgear, Permavent, SR Timber, BMI Redland, Stone Restoration Services, Midland Lead, Hambleside Danelaw, NSITG, Rollins Group, Albion Stone, and Felder Group. See the full list of finalists on Go Construct, and visit the Eventbrite page to get tickets to attend SkillBuild. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Caddick Construction Group is ramping up its investment in the future workforce with the recruitment of seven new apprentices and two new trainees, boosting the Group’s provision of work-based learning across the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Midlands. The new recruits include Apprentice Quantity Surveyor (QS), Isabelle Roberts, who first gained hands-on work experience at Caddick Construction Group’s Farrington Park project in Lancashire. Isabelle has now embarked on a 5-year Quantity Surveying degree with the University of Central Lancashire, attending university one day a week and spending the remaining four days with the site team at Progress Housing Group’s £23m extra care development in Lancaster. Orlando Wilson, one of Caddick’s new Construction Trainees, recently joined the business on a five-year Construction Management degree. Working across a number of Yorkshire developments, including a new £28m scheme for YARA Fertiliser, Orlando is now gaining valuable skills in various different departments at Caddick, whilst also studying for his degree at Leeds Beckett University one day a week.  Working in the Caddick Construction team alongside Isabelle and Orlando is Brandon Crowther as Apprentice Engineer, Rob Knowles as Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, George Reynolds Winstanley as Trainee Site Manager, Evie Belwood as Apprentice Quantity Surveyor and Oliver Fauguel as Apprentice Engineer. Caddick Civil Engineering has also been joined by Apprentice Site Manager, Harvey Fenton, and Trainee Quantity Surveyor, Harry Webster, who will support the business’ growing pipeline of residential and public sector contracts. The nine join Caddick Construction Group’s expanding team of work-based learners, bringing the business’ total number of apprentices and trainees to 23.  Working across the Caddick Construction Group’s key regions, the new recruits will gain first-hand experience of live construction projects in a variety of sectors, including residential, offices, manufacturing, healthcare and retail.  Of her apprenticeship, Isabelle commented: “I am a very hands-on learner so an apprenticeship is perfect for me. Studying for my degree in this way means that I can earn while I’m training and not rack up huge debt as I start my career. I’ve worked with the Caddick team before at Farington Park so I already feel part of the team. Anyone considering an apprenticeship should go for it. It’s a great route into the industry.” Orlando, who works on a number of Caddick Construction sites, added: “Becoming a trainee whilst also studying for my degree has been the perfect route into the industry for me. I’d always known I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps in construction, and initially had my eye on the planning department. This training opportunity will be great for understanding which sector best suits me because it gives me a taste for each, while I study for my Construction Management degree at Leeds Beckett University.”  Recruitment of the new wave of apprentices and trainees has been spearheaded by Caddick Construction Group Managing Director, Paul Dodsworth, who himself began his career as an apprentice bricklayer. Paul Dodsworth, Managing Director of Caddick Construction Group, commented: “I’ve always championed apprenticeships; learning on-the-job is the quickest way to master a skill or trade whilst getting paid. This is especially true for construction. I’ve had a very rewarding career since my apprenticeship and I’m eager to ensure we give young people a good start and add to the industry’s skill set for the future. “This is much more than a personal passion. Investing in skills is about the long-term strength of the Caddick business, succession planning and also our wider industry. Providing real opportunities, passing on our experience and knowledge to the next generation is the only way to future-proof the construction industry. It’s also an incredible way of bringing in fresh ideas; embracing new ways of thinking and increasing diversity, and I’m really excited to see what our new apprentices bring to the team.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals