Business : Training & Skills News

UK Power Networks Services announces David Mitchell as new Director

The energy infrastructure specialist has announced David Mitchell as its new Director, effective from Thursday, 7 July. He replaces Ian Smyth, who will join Electricity North West as Chief Executive Officer later this year. David is an experienced leader who has worked for the company in its various forms since

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Leeds College Launches Construction Course for Football Lovers

Leeds College Launches Construction Course for Football-Lovers

Leeds College of Building may have scored the perfect course after launching a unique programme aimed at students interested in construction, but who love football too. The College is now enrolling for a BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Construction & the Built Environment, which incorporates an additional Level 1 Award in Football

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‘Colourful Careers in Coatings’ with HMG Paints

The UK coatings industry faces a shortage of skilled staff, and an ageing workforce at a time when it is experiencing increasing demand for improved product performance and sustainable solutions. As the UK’s leading independent paint manufacturer, HMG Paints are investing significantly in staff recruitment across the business including in

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CHAS launches new Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Growth Assessment

CHAS, the supply chain risk management expert, has joined forces with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to introduce the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Growth Assessment.   The assessment provides a framework for organisations to assess and embed the principles and business benefits of a fairer, more inclusive and respectful workplace.

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Leeds College of Building gears up as Yorkshire host for SkillBuild regional heats

Leeds College of Building Is Yorkshire’s Host for SkillBuild

Leeds College of Building is set to be the only Yorkshire host for the 2022 SkillBuild Regional Qualifying Heats on 9 June. SkillBuild is the largest and longest running multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild forms

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BESPOKE RAINSCREEN CLADDING INSTALLATION QUALIFICATION LAUNCHED TO TACKLE INDUSTRY SHORTAGES 

AWARDING BODY ProQual and digital-first training platform provider Tequ have come together to pilot a job-specific rainscreen cladding installation qualification, designed to help address the current shortage of trained and qualified professionals in the construction industry as quickly as possible.  Findings following the Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017 identified

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

Business : Training & Skills News

Prologis strengthens Capital Deployment and Leasing in London team with two strategic hires

Prologis UK, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has added two new hires to its Capital Deployment and Leasing team, as it looks to further grow its UK team and drive ambitious growth plans. Jason Pickering has joined as a director in the Capital Deployment and Leasing team, following six years at Cushman & Wakefield. With extensive experience in industrial and logistics capital markets, and a specific focus on South East and national developments, he will be helping Prologis to continue expansion plans in London and development of urban logistics offering. Ryan Gordon also joins the company as a Capital Deployment and Leasing director, after working for Stripe Street for eight years. There, his role as an agent for Aldi Stores UK aided in the supermarket’s expansion, with a particular focus on site acquisitions in London and the South East. Alongside his experience as an agent, Ryan is a chartered surveyor, and has an in-depth knowledge of the land acquisition and property development process from start to finish. In their new roles, both Jason and Ryan will focus on land and investment acquisitions in Prologis’ strategic priority regions within London and the South East, using their complimentary skills and 14 years of combined experience to support the firm’s ambitious growth plans. Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK, said: “It’s great to have Jason and Ryan join our business, both highly qualified to drive forward our significant growth ambitions for London and the wider South East of the UK. In 2022 we have announced six new hires who will focus on the region and will soon be moving into new London offices to provide the team with an exciting new collaborative hub. “I’m looking forward to working with Jason and Ryan and supporting their career aspirations here at Prologis”. Both Ryan and Jason will be based in Prologis’ London office. RE: IMAGE Left -Right / Jason Pickering, Ryan Gordon. Prologis UK

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UK Power Networks Services announces David Mitchell as new Director

The energy infrastructure specialist has announced David Mitchell as its new Director, effective from Thursday, 7 July. He replaces Ian Smyth, who will join Electricity North West as Chief Executive Officer later this year. David is an experienced leader who has worked for the company in its various forms since joining as an apprentice in 1980. In his most recent position as Head of Client Delivery, David has been responsible the delivery of major projects for key clients including works at Hinkley Point C, Great Western train line (GWEP) and London Underground. The internal promotion reflects UK Power Networks Services’ commitment to long-term expertise and professional development within the firm. The announcement comes during an exciting period of growth for UK Power Networks Services, as it continues to deliver for existing clients and expand to support industries through the sustainable energy transformation. The company’s clients include some of the UK’s highest profile business, including airports, ports, rail operators, public sector developments, utilities, manufacturers, and logistics firms. Last month, the company announced a new three-year project with the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, to meet its Net Zero aspirations, reduce emissions, and increase the resilience of the port’s electricity network. New Director David Mitchell said: “I’m of course delighted to be stepping into this role. This is a hugely exciting time for UK Power Networks Services as we continue to deliver a bright energy future for our clients. There is plenty of work to do to meet the challenge, but I believe we have the right blend of skill, experience and determination to deliver.” Basil Scarsella, CEO of UK Power Networks, said: “David is an outstanding leader with a proven track record. His determination and passion will allow UK Power Networks Services to continue to support some of the UK’s most important industries through this critical phase in the transition to Net Zero.” Find out more about UK Power Networks Services: https://www.ukpowernetworksservices.co.uk/

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Leeds College Launches Construction Course for Football Lovers

Leeds College Launches Construction Course for Football-Lovers

Leeds College of Building may have scored the perfect course after launching a unique programme aimed at students interested in construction, but who love football too. The College is now enrolling for a BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Construction & the Built Environment, which incorporates an additional Level 1 Award in Football Coaching. This unusual pairing of premier qualifications is already proving popular with practically-minded students who are passionate about the beautiful game. “To my knowledge, no other specialist colleges like ours offer a football academy like this alongside non-sports courses. This is the perfect option for anyone interested in developing their football skills whilst studying a construction BTEC. By the end of the course, students will have a Level 2 qualification suitable for various careers in construction but also be qualified as a Level 1 Football Coach,” said Denis Metcalf, Student Liaison Officer and Football Academy coach at Leeds College of Building. “This tailor-made course offers more vocational options. It aims to provide a broad understanding of the construction industry, while giving students the freedom to play football every Wednesday in the ESFA College league. Students train every Monday with a qualified UEFA B football coach at Goals Soccer Centre and become a level 1 football coach – all in one year!” The BTEC programme includes units on construction technology, scientific and mathematical applications, design, processes and operations, and drawing techniques. It also incorporates elements of carpentry and joinery, brickwork, painting and decorating, and plastering, ensuring students are even more employable and able to specialise as they enter the construction industry.  Simultaneously, the football academy programme teaches a range of transferable skills, player and coach development, passing, shooting, dribbling and attacking, FA Emergency Aid, and FA Safeguarding.  “On top of the Level 1 Award and BTEC Level 2 Certificate, students study Maths and English, gain work experience and employability skills, participate in a National Citizen programme, with the chance to go on a summer residential, and get weekly access to JD Gym. Combined, this is an amazing offer,” added Steve Connell, Assistant Faculty Director in Construction Crafts at the College. To apply, students must be over 16 and have 5 GCSEs including Maths & English at grade 3 plus three other subjects with an average grade 3. After completion, options include Apprenticeships, BTEC Level 3 qualifications, further football coaching development, or entry into the exciting and varied field of construction. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News

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‘Colourful Careers in Coatings’ with HMG Paints

The UK coatings industry faces a shortage of skilled staff, and an ageing workforce at a time when it is experiencing increasing demand for improved product performance and sustainable solutions. As the UK’s leading independent paint manufacturer, HMG Paints are investing significantly in staff recruitment across the business including in their research and development facilities and pro-actively working to attract experienced coatings formulators whilst also developing the next generation of staff to handle these challenges. “People are at the heart of HMG and we’re always looking to create the best environment for our people to thrive” commented Steve Crossman, COO. “Be it the annual staff BBQ, 1pm Friday Finish or Christmas & New Year off we always try to ensure we provide a great work life balance where our staff can develop professionally and personally.” The nature and variety of HMG’s customer base & product portfolio means that there is a broad range of roles and opportunities within the company from apprentice and graduate opportunities in production and operations to roles for experienced chemists within the Laboratory. These roles include technical positions such as paint technologists, research & development chemists and colour specialists with one eye on a sustainable, net zero future. Believe it or not the company even have roles that require watching paint dry. HMG’s portfolio of wet paint and aerosols cover virtually every type of surface imaginable across a whole host of industries including industrial, commercial vehicle, decorative, automotive, defence, toll manufacturing, wood finish and arts & craft and the company is now looking to further develop its staff to handle increased customer demand. Colourful Career Opportunities One area HMG has really pushed the boundaries over the last few years is within their Advanced Colour Design department. The success of the department means that HMG are now looking to further expand its colour development and formulation team who are responsible for the companies library of over 90,000 colour formulations. The Advanced Colour Design team work very closely with customers to develop bespoke colour options and solutions for customers in a variety of fields including decorative, automotive, model and hobby. The team have worked on a number of high-profile projects including the Jaguar CX-17 (F-Pace), paint for Aston Marin Racing that was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, a unique gold for angel statues at the Parisian Hotel and Casino in Macau, interior design palettes for leading decorative brands and the team even worked on the restoration of Emerson Fittipaldi’s iconic Lotus F1 car along with many other projects. Training and Development “HMG Paints has a long and proud history of developing our own technical team and we have some very exciting opportunities available as our business continues to grow” commented COO, Steve Crossman. “Having started myself as an apprentice in the laboratory I know first hand about the exciting challenges and opportunities that lie within HMG Paints. We have a great track record of nurturing our own talent in-house but also combining that with attracting experienced professionals within the coatings industry.” After various roles in the laboratories including development chemist and Technical Director, as COO Steve is now keen for the next generation of talent to be developed within HMG. A key facet of this is utilising the knowledge and experience of existing lab staff and combining that with training organisations, courses and guidance provided by PRA, BCF and OCCA. The coatings industry and HMG’s broader appeal can be further strengthened with links to academic institutions, illustrated recently by HMG’s participation with the Chemistry in Industry module conducted by OCCA at the University of Salford. This route has helped HMG produce a number of home-grown coating chemists over the years including Darren James, who is a previous recipient of the British Coatings Federation Student of the Year award. This award is presented to the student who, in the opinion of the tutors of the Coatings Training Institute, has consistently demonstrated the highest level of understanding and achieved outstanding scores in examinations and practical work when completing their training modules.  “I was over the moon! Being up against people who had much more chemistry experience behind them, I didn’t think I was going to win. The help and guidance of my colleagues at HMG really helped with my development. I now work on some very innovative projects for our customers and it’s a very proud feeling when you see products you developed being used in the real world to solve customers’ problems.” said Darren. Another success story of HMG’s investment in staff and training is, HR Assistant Melissa Strowbridge. Melissa has recently completed her Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Salford and has also talked at the Houses of Parliament about the importance of apprenticeships. Melissa added, “The benefits of doing the degree via an apprenticeship route was that I was able to apply my learning directly to the workplace. Throughout the programme I developed both professionally and personally and I can now bring these skills into the workplace. I have a fantastic grounding for the future thanks to the University of Salford and HMG.” Varied Products HMG Paints provide coatings across a spectrum of industries which creates great variety in the projects their technical team work on. Many of the projects are also innovative within the coatings industry. HMG were the first paint manufacturer to develop and commercialise Graphene containing coatings for a variety of industries, with the coatings today being used on Commercial Vehicles across the UK. On the other end of the development spectrum, Graduate Apprentice Avese Umar has recently led the redevelopment of the company’s artist Oil Colours. The range originally developed in the 1940’s has been reformulated to combine traditional performance with modern and sustainable raw materials. The range is used by leading artists including Carl Melegari, Frank Auerbach and Jake Attree, with artworks that use the range hanging in galleries across the globe. To see a full list of HMG Paints products and services visit www.hmgpaint.com via the website you can

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CHAS launches new Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Growth Assessment

CHAS, the supply chain risk management expert, has joined forces with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to introduce the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Growth Assessment.   The assessment provides a framework for organisations to assess and embed the principles and business benefits of a fairer, more inclusive and respectful workplace. It has been specifically designed by construction clients, contractors and sub-contractors and is suitable for organisations of any size, large or small. Commenting on the new partnership, CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon says: “We are excited to join forces with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to further the construction industry’s progress in becoming more diverse and inclusive and make the sector a better place to work for everyone.” Promoting a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect has multiple benefits. Not only are diverse businesses more profitable, they are also better at attracting and retaining talent, as jobseekers increasingly favour employers that are committed to diversity and equality. Having a diverse workforce can also lead to better workplace performance by generating new ideas and perspectives, and increasing employee engagement. Furthermore, clients and large contractors increasingly expect their supply-chain partners to work with them to implement diversity and inclusion practices and policies. Become accredited Businesses can now become accredited for their commitment to promoting fairness, inclusion and respect via a new CHAS accreditation. The CHAS Fairness, Inclusion and Respect accreditation enables companies to confirm that they are embedding this issue within their organisation in line with industry best practice and guidelines. As well as helping companies demonstrate that they are responsible businesses, this can help them win more work.  The assessment involves a mix of online questions and in-person interviews and considers the role of six key factors in effectively embedding a culture of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect, which include; strategy, leadership and governance; recruitment and development; working practices; the site environment, and the supply chain. Commenting on the launch of the accreditation, Ian McKinnon says: “As the industry becomes more attuned to the value of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect, it is a real benefit for businesses to be able to demonstrate that they are taking this issue seriously.   “CHAS’s new accreditation provides reassurance that Fairness, Inclusion and Respect is being embedded effectively throughout an organisation in line with current best practice and guidelines. This in turn can help companies grow their reputations and businesses.”  To find out more about the CHAS Fairness, Inclusion and Respect accreditation, call CHAS today on 0345 521 9111 or visit www.chas.co.uk Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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Leeds College of Building gears up as Yorkshire host for SkillBuild regional heats

Leeds College of Building Is Yorkshire’s Host for SkillBuild

Leeds College of Building is set to be the only Yorkshire host for the 2022 SkillBuild Regional Qualifying Heats on 9 June. SkillBuild is the largest and longest running multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild forms part of WorldSkills UK and is often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics’ for some of the most in-demand construction trades. The competition will showcase some of the region’s most talented learners and apprentices. The event kicked off in April with 16 regional heats now happening at various colleges across the UK until the end of June. Leeds College of Building will welcome 83 competitors (including students from the College) for the regional heats of Bricklaying, Carpentry, Joinery, Painting & Decorating, Plastering, Plastering & Drywall systems, Wall & Floor Tiling, and Roof Slating & Tiling. The College last hosted a Regional Qualifier in 2019 when it was the Roof Slating & Tiling competition venue. This is the first time the College has acted as the host for the whole of the Yorkshire region. Top scoring competitors will move onto the second stage in the competition, qualifying for the 2022 SkillBuild UK National Competition Final being held at six venues, including Edinburgh College, from Monday 14 November. Due to restrictions around Covid-19 last year, qualifying rounds were held remotely at competitors’ colleges. The competition takes place at a time when there is a skills shortage and demand for more workers in the construction industry is high. CITB’s recent Rethinking Recruitment report highlights the need to attract more individuals into construction, and encompassing a variety of trades, SkillBuild presents a fantastic opportunity to alter perceptions and promote the diverse range of roles available. “Taking part in a WorldSkills UK competition can be a life-changing experience, and I would like to wish all the construction competitors the very best of luck in their heats. WorldSkills UK’s competition-based development programmes offer students and apprentices the chance to pit their skills against the best of the best in the UK and potentially on the international stage at Lyon in the 2024 WorldSkills global competition,” said WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO Ben Blackledge. “We are delighted to host the SkillBuild Yorkshire heats and see some of our own students representing the College at a regional level. It’s a real testament to the work that they have been doing, and we foresee a bright future ahead for them. The College has a great track record in the competition, and we hope 2022 will be no exception. It’s fantastic to see the competition opening up again, and we look forward to welcoming competitors from across the region to our campus,” added Mark Sims, Leeds College of Building Lecturer and Competition Coordinator. Leeds College of Building was established in 1960 and is the only specialist general further education construction college in the UK. The College teaches around 5,500 students and is currently recruiting to a comprehensive range of courses related to construction and the built environment commencing in September 2022. In total, the College trains nearly 2,800 Apprentices across all areas of the College’s provision. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News

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Keeping construction skills up to date – CLF introduces new suite of CPD courses

Digital construction, net zero and retrofitting are key issues for the construction sector. In recognition of the importance of career progression, industry collaboration body the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) has worked to develop a new suite of free-to-use continuing professional development (CPD) modules. Working with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), formerly the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), the CLF is aiming the new modules at educators, who will cascade the information to a wide variety of different learners. The modules, which have just been launched today (Tuesday 31st May) can be found on the BE-ST Learning Management System, will focus on key areas of the recovery and transformation of the construction sector. They are free to use and include an understanding of digital construction by BE-ST: building a net zero environment with a focus on retrofitting by the Association for Environment Conscious Building; and a course on timber technologies and innovation by Edinburgh Napier University. Kirsty Duncan, Associate Impact Manager at BE-ST, said: “The construction sector is increasingly seen as a very attractive career option and CPD is an important part of that. “These new digital assets and resources will be used by educators to enhance learning provision and will be hosted on our learning management software, requiring only a username and password. “The courses will be short and to the point and will include case studies, videos and real-life scenarios. They will be free of charge and users will be able to do them at their own pace, coming and going as they choose. Certificates will be awarded on completion.” The CPD plan is the latest initiative from the CLF, which recently launched a revolutionary new data dashboard to collect and disseminate statistical knowledge, creating greater openness, transparency and information exchange in the construction industry in Scotland. It has also introduced the Built Environment Workforce Development Portal, a new guide which will provide a breakdown of re-skilling and up-skilling courses by theme, occupation and region across Scotland. The CLF was established in March 2019 to develop and implement a Recovery Plan of actions aligned with Government policies and the Construction Scotland Industry Strategy.  Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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BESPOKE RAINSCREEN CLADDING INSTALLATION QUALIFICATION LAUNCHED TO TACKLE INDUSTRY SHORTAGES 

AWARDING BODY ProQual and digital-first training platform provider Tequ have come together to pilot a job-specific rainscreen cladding installation qualification, designed to help address the current shortage of trained and qualified professionals in the construction industry as quickly as possible.  Findings following the Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017 identified a total of 477 high-rise residential buildings and publicly owned buildings as having aluminium composite material cladding such as that used on the tower, which would need to be removed.  With the Building Safety Bill and Fire Safety Act set to require even more work in cladding remediation, it is crucial that the shortage of trained and qualified rainscreen cladding installation professionals within the construction industry is addressed.  The partnership between ProQual and Tequ is supported by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and provides a digital-first delivery with an ability to learn in an agile way that suits the student’s need. The new qualification – called ProQual Level 2 Award in Rainscreen Cladding Installation – will be assessed by ProQual approved training providers through Tequ’s innovative learning platform. Using a blended learning approach with a digital recording system, this new course can be achieved quickly and become a platform for students to choose their onward learning – whether that is on a pathway in cladding or a transition to other parts of the construction sector. Jenni Longden, chief executive of Tequ, said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with ProQual to deliver this much-needed, skills-specific training course into the construction industry. The shortage of trained rainscreen cladding installer professionals is a problem for the sector, so it’s important that we tackle that as quickly as possible. “Shorter, more specific and agile qualifications are a key way for us to do this, which aligns with both what the industry needs and what people want from their training too. We are really excited to embark on this scheme and look forward to hearing the feedback from the centres and those participating in the qualification.”  The qualification puts job-specific skills into the hands of construction professionals to help tackle the ongoing cladding crisis. The learner will develop their knowledge and skills in a workplace environment covering criteria such as health and safety, fire risks, equipment preparation and the all-important installation method.  The pilot scheme has been launched with four training centres, Endeavour Safety Services, Bercaf, Skills Centre and ASQ. The scheme covers 100 learners all due to complete their qualifications by this autumn. Mike Hewitt, business services manager of ProQual, said: “With the ongoing need to remediate cladding work across the country, it became starkly clear to us that the training courses available on the market were too time consuming. We wanted to help provide a qualification in a more efficient manner and provide the future of learning with e-portfolios and CVs. “We are proud of what we have produced and look forward to working with Tequ and the training providers to get our first learners fully qualified and out onto site with the job-specific skills they need.”   Gerard Toplass, group CEO of The 55 Group, Tequ’s parent organisation, said: “It is fantastic that this collaboration brings together a new digital way of learning, which could really help make the industry more responsive. By delivering skills to young people quickly, will provide them with a life of careers rather than a career for life.  “We see this pilot as a template for future qualifications that can be delivered quickly, allowing the sector to become more responsive to future needs in other areas including renewables, electric vehicle charging and more. We need to promote a ‘Passport for Construction’ approach for the sector and this pilot project is a great building block. “We are really pleased this pilot has been backed by key organisations and figures in the industry, including the CITB and Dame Judith Hackitt. Tackling the ongoing shortfall in people with specific skillsets in the construction industry is something we’re particularly passionate about and will continue to work on into the future.”  For more information about the ProQual Level 2 Award in Rainscreen Cladding Installation course or to onboard, please visit https://www.proqualab.com/media/documents/ProQual-L2-Award-in-Rainscreen-Cladding-Installation.pdf Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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ESS ambition is to shape the future of industry by becoming the training partner of choice

Building on our 10-year leadership position as one of the UK wide training providers, we go beyond just delivering basic training, we maximise clients training opportunities with ‘best-in-class’, product packages and tailor-made service models as a requirement. ESS recognises that building the leadership and expertise of tomorrows workforce, will foster a culture that develops, supports, and motivates people. Market trends require more than one training option to develop a skilled workforce.      Apprenticeship’s, NVQ’s, CITB Courses, eLearning, Classroom, and nationwide On-Site training are all part of ESS extended customer reach. We view change in the marketplace as an opportunity to grow local and regional SMEs workforce alongside, larger companies, Major plc’s, and County Councils.    Through our UK alliances, our teams continue to do an outstanding job delivering a full range of training courses throughout the year. ESS have the ability to develop and produce innovative training packages, services and solutions that satisfy emerging customer training requirements. There are millions of pounds in funding and grants available for apprenticeships, adult education, training and NVQ’s in construction sector, but employers, especially SMEs are not taking advantage of it.   We have an outstanding portfolio of training courses aligned with market trends available to you and your teams. View upcoming public courses by month and year  https://essentialsiteskills.co.uk/training-calendar You can book all courses online by following the links. Alternatively, contact: 0115 8970529 to talk with one of our expert trained advisors direct, they can assist you findinganalternative location or date and even arrange for bespoke packages more suited to your requirements. Our ambition is to shape the future of industry by becoming the training partner of choice nationally.  We look forward to working with you! Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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Scaffolding Association welcomes CITB plan to invest over £233m to support construction throughout 2022/23.

The Business Plan which was published on 18th May responds to the estimated demand for an additional 50,000 workers every year and is primarily focused on securing construction’s talent pipeline. CITB will run and support several initiatives to inspire people outside of the industry to choose construction as their career and to upskill and retain existing talent. Skills Demands The plan details how CITB will invest in supporting apprenticeships and building bridges between further education and work to get more learners into construction. It intends to create more accessible routes into construction, focusing on apprenticeships, alongside on-site experiences, and future rollout of occupational traineeships. A total of £60.3m in direct grants will be made available to employers who take on apprentices, supporting the industry to address its current and future need for a skilled workforce. Capacity and Capability of Construction Training Provision £25.9m will be invested in direct training delivery to enable the continuation of core skills training and training provision in niche and at-risk skills through CITB’s National Construction Colleges. The plan will support over 300,000 Health Safety & Environment tests over the coming year, ensuring there is good availability of tests in as many locations as possible, bringing assurance to employers that their workforce can keep themselves and those around them safe. Future Skills Needs The plan describes how CITB will help to address longer-term challenges such as net zero, digitisation and modern methods of construction. £2.1m will be invested into research to better understand construction’s changing environment to help focus CITB’s work on interventions that will have the greatest impact and shape new training and standards development. In a statement, Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said; “While progress has been made, the construction industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, including inflation, rising fuel prices, the pandemic and Brexit, to name a few. In many ways the industry is still experiencing and feeling the impact of these events, which we know has shifted priorities greatly and pushed the demand for skills to the forefront. It’s essential now more than ever that efforts are focused on helping to alleviate those pressures and address the key needs of industry.” Robert Candy, Scaffolding Association Chief Executive, said; “It is welcome news that CITB are investing levy payers’ money into the areas that need it most. Skills shortages and training provision that is fit for purpose and accessible are shared priorities of the Scaffolding Association. Tim is speaking at our conference in September and we look forward to working with him and his team in addressing the skills shortage”. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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