A shopfloor assistant at one of the UK’s leading builders merchants has completed his apprenticeship – a few months before turning 70. Terence Archer, who works for Selco Builders Warehouse in its Crayford branch, achieved a distinction in his Level Two Retailer working with training provider Realise. The achievement is
A Suffolk construction boss has described apprentices as the answer to the industry’s skills shortage to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2022. Simon Girling is the director of SEH French, an Ipswich-based firm operating across East Anglia, where apprentices make up 10% of the workforce. Mr Girling, whose apprentices include carpenters
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is heralding its Construction Skills Fund (CSF) initiative a resounding success after 20,000 people became site-ready after training at its hubs; 6,000 of those from the second phase of the scheme alone. 54% of those who completed training were from groups typically under-represented in
Prologis, the UK’s leading developer and owner of logistics property, has confirmed three strategic hires to kickstart the New Year, as it seeks to enrich its skill set and further strengthen its platform for growth in a dynamic logistics property market. Caroline Musker is joining Prologis from Lichfields, where she
Construction employers are being encouraged to rethink how they attract their workforce as competition for skilled workers gets more intense. The industry faces a tough challenge to meet its recruitment needs in a labour market that is running hot and with new CITB research showing that just two per cent of those
Chris Johns And Gaynor Carpenter Appointed As Directors Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has announced the expansion of its Board with the appointment of two new directors, Chris Johns and Gaynor Carpenter. The new appointments come as Keyland prepares for
NOTTINGHAM’S city within a city, The Island Quarter development, has strengthened its project delivery team with the appointment of Steve Thornton as project manager. Bringing more than 35 years’ experience in the construction industry with him, Steve is set to add impetus to the development team, ensuring each phase is
GMI Construction Group PLC has announced the key appointment of Andrew Hurcomb as Divisional Managing Director (DMD) for Yorkshire. He succeeds Lee Powell, recently promoted to the newly created position of Chief Executive Officer, who is tasked with delivering sustained growth across its four core regions of Yorkshire, the North
William Hanson, the UK’s leading etiquette coach and expert, gives guidance to young installers on how to make the perfect first impression as part of the Future Talent Initiative from Worcester Bosch… Worcester Bosch is delighted to announce their partnership with etiquette expert, William Hanson, to help educate young installers
Actis regional sales director and Women in Construction ambassador Jemma Harris has been inspiring young women to reject stereotypes and follow their dreams of a career in a male-dominated profession. Jemma, who is responsible for sales growth in the UK Northern region, was speaking to year 11 students at a
A shopfloor assistant at one of the UK’s leading builders merchants has completed his apprenticeship – a few months before turning 70. Terence Archer, who works for Selco Builders Warehouse in its Crayford branch, achieved a distinction in his Level Two Retailer working with training provider Realise. The achievement is all the more remarkable as Terence, who turns 70 in April, left school with no qualifications at 15 and has now made the grade in English and Maths as part of his recent studies. Terence, who completed a carpentry apprenticeship 50 years ago and speaking as part of National Apprenticeship Week, said: “It just goes to show you are never too old to complete an apprenticeship. “I’m really proud of myself because I pushed out of my boundaries to achieve this. “I’ve only been in retail for two-and-a-half years and wanted to learn as much as possible to be as good at the job as I can. “The opportunity to complete an apprenticeship came up from Selco and I jumped at the chance. “Part of the qualification was to achieve functional skills in English and Maths which I didn’t achieve at school. “I also had to learn a lot of new IT skills from pretty much scratch and that was difficult. “There were many times when I wanted to give up but my trainers at Realise were brilliant at helping me through the tough periods and keeping me going. I’m very glad I got to the end and achieved a distinction.” Terence – who was a carpenter and then became a general builder – completed his apprenticeship as part of Selco’s Rising Stars programme which is designed to help colleagues upskill and progress their careers. As part of his Bronze Rising Stars qualification, Terence completed 16 modules including business management and brand reputation, customer and communication, product and services, stock and merchandising and team and performance. He added: “I started at Selco because, after I retired from building, I got bored sitting around at home and wanted to keep busy. “I never dreamt at that stage I would do an apprenticeship but I’m so glad I have and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. “I would encourage anybody thinking of doing an apprenticeship – whatever their age or occupation – to go ahead with it. It’s extremely rewarding and, for people far younger than me, can be crucial in them enhancing their careers. “If I was a few years younger, I would certainly do another one but I think that’s me done for now.” With hundreds of trade brands always in stock, Selco’s 72 branches are firmly focused on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible. As well as offering trade services, Selco also has a strong digital presence including Click & Deliver, a Click & Collect services.
A Suffolk construction boss has described apprentices as the answer to the industry’s skills shortage to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2022. Simon Girling is the director of SEH French, an Ipswich-based firm operating across East Anglia, where apprentices make up 10% of the workforce. Mr Girling, whose apprentices include carpenters and quantity surveyors, said: “The construction industry, like many others, has got a major skills shortage. It’s something that has been ongoing and is probably only going to get worse. We’re certainly seeing the effects of it now more than ever when trying to recruit people.” The skills shortage in the industry has been well-documented over the years and that will likely remain unchanged, as it’s forecast 217,000 new workers will be needed by 2025 to meet demands according to the Construction Skills Network. Shortages are largely due to an ageing workforce which doesn’t have enough young people to replace them as they reach retirement. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed between October and December 2021, there were 42,000 job vacancies in construction. SEH French thinks investing time and money in bringing new people into the industry, such as apprentices, will help alleviate the strain present in construction while providing young people with more opportunities. Simon continued: “Bringing in new people into any industry is beneficial, young people bring fresh ideas. They [apprentices] live, develop and grow with us as people and in their trade or profession. “Apprentices help support our senior staff which in turn helps us operate and have better capabilities for meeting our client’s requirements and our own workloads. “Their on-the-job training teaches them how to work to our high standards and how to work as a team. It’s really important to be able to train them to how we want them to work and grow into a professional person.” National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is the 15th annual event aimed at celebrating the positive impact apprenticeships make to businesses and communities. With this year’s theme being ‘build the future’, Mr Girling thinks it’s the perfect opportunity for construction companies to recognise benefits of apprenticeships. He continued: “It’s important for us to contribute to bringing new people into the industry. I think companies have an obligation to do that and to help alleviate some of them problems with skills shortages.” SEH French remains keen to create opportunities for more young people across the region, and people are advised to check their careers page for future vacancies. For more information, please visit www.sehfrench.co.uk.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is heralding its Construction Skills Fund (CSF) initiative a resounding success after 20,000 people became site-ready after training at its hubs; 6,000 of those from the second phase of the scheme alone. 54% of those who completed training were from groups typically under-represented in construction. The project, delivered on behalf of the Department for Education, also saw just under half (2,934) of those trained in the latest phase find *sustainable employment in the industry. The second phase ran between March 2020 and September 2021, where training took place at 14 CSF hubs across England. They were based within construction sites, so that entrants could become employment and site-ready as quickly as possible. CITB’s Strategy and Policy Director, Steve Radley said: “The numbers reflect a fantastic achievement. We also exceeded our target in encouraging people who had not previously considered construction to make a career change. We were looking at 15% coming in from outside the industry to learn site skills instead this was 46%. The figures are boosted by many people being made redundant throughout the various lockdowns and looking for a new job. “Despite what the pandemic threw at the hubs, they’ve managed to get more skilled people into the construction industry when it needed them most.” Thanks to the CSF, Natalie Visser, 33, went from being a dissatisfied care worker, who struggled to get out of bed in the morning, to becoming a machine operator thriving in the great outdoors. Reflecting on her career change, mum-of-three Natalie, from Petersfield, near Portsmouth, says: “The CSF course changed everything. I used to lie in bed not wanting to get up. That’s all gone now. I come in to work happy and go home happy. It has been life changing. I’ve found my feet in my new career and I’m so grateful to my housing association (Abri) and CSF for this.” As DFE’s project finishes, CITB has established its own network of 13 Onsite Experience hubs in England and Wales, with more hubs planned in Scotland later this year. Building on the knowledge gained from the demand for the CSF hubs, the Onsite Experience hubs offer hands-on site experience and employment-related certifications needed by local employers. 13 hubs have been approved for £9.5m of CITB funding to give over 6,800 people the opportunity to become employment and site-ready and enable at least 3,300 of these to secure sustained employment within the next three years. This will contribute towards CITB’s target of equipping 16,000 people with hands-on site experience, enabling at least 4,800 to secure sustained employment in construction by 2025. Rohan Cheriyan, CITB Commissioner for this programme added: “Our Onsite Experience hubs are providing a one-stop recruitment solution for construction employers. By linking together employers, training providers, local authorities, LEPs, community agencies and other partners, hubs enable the development of employment and site-ready people from local communities. “These well-suited candidates are then linked to employers’ vacancies, and because they have gained initial site experience and have the necessary introductory training and health & safety credentials, they are ready to hit the ground running and are proving a real success with the employers who recruit them.” Between 2021 and 2025 CITB aims to increase Great Britain’s construction talent pool through these Onsite Experience hubs, creating a skills pipeline to meet the needs of construction employers and enabling career opportunities for people from local communities. CITB encourages anyone considering a construction career to find out more about the Onsite Experience hubs across England and Wales. Scotland will join the scheme during 2022.
Prologis, the UK’s leading developer and owner of logistics property, has confirmed three strategic hires to kickstart the New Year, as it seeks to enrich its skill set and further strengthen its platform for growth in a dynamic logistics property market. Caroline Musker is joining Prologis from Lichfields, where she gained more than 17 years’ experience from a number of roles, including her latest position as senior director. She has been involved in a number of Prologis’ projects during this time. As a Director at Prologis, she will be taking the newly-created role of Head of Planning, helping to get projects off to a good start and exploring ways to add value for the customer and the business. She will also be helping to assess potential acquisition and investment opportunities. Gillian Scarth joins Prologis as a director in the Capital Deployment and Leasing team, after 15 years’ experience as a senior development manager at Kier Property. Gill has an impressive professional network and extensive experience of managing diverse customer portfolios offering a mix of uses in multiple sectors. She will primarily be focused on driving growth and supporting the delivery of new and existing projects in London and the South East. Simon Perks is joining the Capital Deployment and Leasing team at Prologis UK as a director, with a specific brief to look for opportunities to further strengthen the company’s asset portfolio in London and the South East. In his former role as senior development manager at The Crown Estate, he gained considerable experience in developing and adding value to a unique land and property portfolio, which includes 10 million sq. ft. of assets in areas of central London. Paul Weston, Prologis UK regional head, added: “We are delighted to be making these strategic hires at the start of the year to help drive our growth. There has been a significant increase in demand for logistics property during the pandemic and finding land and property to develop, in the right locations is a key focus. By enriching our skill set and hiring talented people, we aim to boost our competitiveness and unlock more opportunities in the year ahead.”
Construction employers are being encouraged to rethink how they attract their workforce as competition for skilled workers gets more intense. The industry faces a tough challenge to meet its recruitment needs in a labour market that is running hot and with new CITB research showing that just two per cent of those outside construction see it as their preferred industry to work in. Yet the research also shows that construction could be more successful if it aligned its recruitment approach to values where it scores highly. These include stability & security, the variety of work, the opportunity to have a positive impact and the chance to specialise and become an expert The industry also needs to widen its net to recruit the tens of thousands of new workers it needs. Currently, women only make up 14% of the workforce and workers from ethnic minorities just 6%. Fixing this isn’t just about changing the culture, it’s about making the opportunities much more visible and accessible. The Rethinking Recruitment research shows that people outside or who have little contact with the industry often have limited knowledge of what construction can offer, while negative perceptions and misconceptions surrounding culture and behaviours persist. The report also found only three-in-ten (30%) outsiders feel construction is ‘for someone like them’. However, the Rethinking Recruitment research shows construction has the chance to address these perceptions and appeal to a much wider group. The industry is described by those inside as somewhere that offers generous pay, opportunities for progression and a varied working environment. “‘There will always be opportunities in construction, and that is quite a reassuring thing to have” Female, 22, white, Professional Insiders also report it to be diverse, flexible and aligned to their values, but many outside industry are unaware that construction can offer them this. Steve Radley, CITB’s Strategy and Policy Director said: “This report is aimed at helping the industry take a fresh look at how it attracts its future workforce. Construction has massive strengths such as the ability to make a positive impact, including its contribution to Net Zero. And it scores highly on the variety of work and the opportunity to specialise, become an expert and progress your career. “Construction’s challenge is to bring the knowledge and understanding of insiders to those outside of the industry and to celebrate what is good about it. We need to fire up their enthusiasm and make it the career of choice for thousands more potential new workers. “ Informal and word-of-mouth recruitment used by the bulk of construction employers is affecting the industry’s opportunity for creating a more diverse workplace If workers without the right personal contacts don’t get a chance to apply, industry misses their talent. The research pointed to the benefit from employers highlighting, in recruitment advertising, the values important to them to help candidates identify common ground. Other points include using key strengths as identified by insiders in recruitment material, such as the stability of the job and job satisfaction from creating something – making a difference to other people’s lives by building homes – and career progression through training. Steve added: “There are some useful conclusions in the report and we hope with the widening skills gap that employers will benefit from these suggestions. “Construction has a lot to offer but the message isn’t as yet getting out to those who are looking for a career change or where to start with their career and that needs to change.” Other suggestions to improve recruitment outcomes and fix incorrect stereotypes include companies making more of ambassadors – presenting role models from their own workforce and offering site taster days and easier to access work experience. Firms are encouraged to link up with CITB’s onsite training hubs and to get in touch with their regional engagement office to take up training opportunities for staff. You can read the Rethinking Recruitment report here.
Chris Johns And Gaynor Carpenter Appointed As Directors Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has announced the expansion of its Board with the appointment of two new directors, Chris Johns and Gaynor Carpenter. The new appointments come as Keyland prepares for a busy year ahead following the launch of its UK-first Valuation Tool and its innovative Six Capitals approach to development, which aims to change the way that developments are delivered across the Yorkshire region with sustainability at its core. Chris Johns joins the Board alongside his current role as Chief Financial Officer at Yorkshire Water. Chris joined Yorkshire Water in 2021 from his former role as Finance Director of Northumbrian Water Limited. Also strengthening the Board is Gaynor Carpenter who joins alongside her current role as Head of Land & Property at Yorkshire Water. Chris and Gaynor will sit alongside existing members Liz Barber, who is Chair and Chief Executive of Kelda Group, Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland and Luke Axe, who took his place on the Board last year following his promotion to Land and Planning Director for Keyland. Liz Barber said; “We are delighted to welcome Chris and Gaynor to the Board, who both bring a wide amount of experience with them in their roles providing strategic and practical leadership to a number of businesses. These latest appointments are designed to strengthen the Keyland Board as we look to expand the business beyond our traditional residential and industrial sectors and build on our Six Capitals approach to development, which now sees us promoting more than 9,000 residential units and 4.5 million square feet of commercial development.”
NOTTINGHAM’S city within a city, The Island Quarter development, has strengthened its project delivery team with the appointment of Steve Thornton as project manager. Bringing more than 35 years’ experience in the construction industry with him, Steve is set to add impetus to the development team, ensuring each phase is completed on schedule. Steve stepped into the role in October 2021 and is responsible for assisting the wider team with the planning for each phase of the development. Having worked in the industry since 1987, he has been brought on to The Island Quarter due to his extensive build experience and additional involvement in civils projects. Steve said: “I’m delighted to be a part of the team delivering The Island Quarter to Nottingham. Developments of this scale and significance don’t come along very often so it’s a once in a career opportunity. For me, it is particularly remarkable to play a role in bringing it to fruition as I’ve lived in Nottingham for almost 30 years, it’s the place I call home, and I’m excited to create a space the city will benefit from for generations to come.” Prior to this role, Steve worked on a range of developments across the country, from the Canary Wharf Project in London to his recent work on the local Lace Market Point. Steve pairs his strong built environment knowledge with his further experience in civils, which lends itself to the demands of the The Island Quarter site, where a mixture of both is required. Robert Ware, chief executive of the Conygar Investment Company, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Steve’s expertise to The Island Quarter. He’s already making an impact on the efficient running of the site, having hit the ground running earlier this year. As work on site is rapidly progressing, and phase 1A is set to open in Spring 2022, Steve will play a pivotal role in pushing the plans forward, on time, working with the relevant parties to do so. “We are continuing to develop our plans for the later stages of the site, at the same time as delivering the initial ones. Steve’s role will ensure the pre-construction procedures are in place and that progress is monitored once work begins, a position that will be vital as we advance through to completion at each phase.” The Island Quarter will open its doors to Canal Turn, the first phase, in spring 2022. Meanwhile, planning approval is expected within the next few weeks for phase 1B, which includes a hotel, 247 apartments and extensive food and beverage outlets. To find out more about The Island Quarter and Canal Turn, please visit: theislandquarter.com
GMI Construction Group PLC has announced the key appointment of Andrew Hurcomb as Divisional Managing Director (DMD) for Yorkshire. He succeeds Lee Powell, recently promoted to the newly created position of Chief Executive Officer, who is tasked with delivering sustained growth across its four core regions of Yorkshire, the North West, Midlands and North East. Hurcomb’s arrival represents a real coup for GMI, given his outstanding track record at Willmott Dixon where he spent five years as Operations Director. There he oversaw the company’s growth across Yorkshire and the North and was responsible for delivering several high-profile projects. With more than 30 years’ experience within the construction industry, he has gained skills and practical experience at every level. Originally from Dewsbury, he studied at Huddersfield Technical College, Leeds College of Building, and Leeds Becket University. He began his career in 1984 with M.Harrison & Co before moving to Miller Construction in Yorkshire in 1989, gaining experience in a variety of roles from Site Engineer to Senior Project Manager before progressing to Regional Technical Director for the North of England. When Galliford Try acquired Miller in 2014 Andrew took up the position of Operations Director for Yorkshire, before moving to Willmott Dixon in 2017. Lee Powell, CEO of GMI Construction Group PLC, said: “Following my appointment as CEO, we required someone with the right skills, dedication and drive to fulfil this key role within the business. “His knowledge and experience of the Yorkshire construction market is second to none. He is highly respected in the region, making him an exceptional appointment and someone who can build upon GMI’s first rate reputation and its success in delivering major developments across three decades. “He has GMI values at heart and the business acumen to make a real impact by taking our Yorkshire business portfolio to an even greater level. I’m delighted to welcome him onboard.” Andrew Hurcomb, Divisional Managing Director – Yorkshire, said: “I’m extremely proud to join a forward-thinking company like GMI, which is a business that is going places. It’s my intention to continue the excellent work Lee has already achieved as DMD in the region. “I will spearhead GMI Construction Group’s ongoing expansion in Yorkshire as part of its UK strategy to levelling up in key regions. This follows several high-profile projects wins this year and next. “We are onsite currently with a workbook of 11 live projects across Yorkshire, with a further 4 projects due to commence in Q1 2022 with a combined total value of more than £250M, and we’re looking to expand that significantly in the coming 12 months. I’m relishing the opportunity and the hard work starts now.” One of the UK’s largest independent construction companies in the North of England and The Midlands, with offices in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and Teesside, GMI Construction Group PLC is forecasting an annual turnover in excess of £350m for 2022 and has already secured £300m worth of opportunities.
William Hanson, the UK’s leading etiquette coach and expert, gives guidance to young installers on how to make the perfect first impression as part of the Future Talent Initiative from Worcester Bosch… Worcester Bosch is delighted to announce their partnership with etiquette expert, William Hanson, to help educate young installers on how to make the perfect first impression when entering customers’ homes, as part of the ongoing Future Talent Initiative (FTI). The Future Talent Initiative was launched back in September 2021 and aims to help young installers, apprentices and those new to the sector navigate the start of their careers by providing them with advice spanning many different topics. The most recent is led by William Hanson a leading etiquette expert, who has developed a bespoke resource to give young installers advice on how to make a strong first impression when interacting with customers in their homes. The video can be viewed below: As a leading expert in etiquette and CEO of the English Manner, the UK’s most established etiquette and protocol consultancy, William has the right skills and expertise to help young professionals develop their confidence and build strong relationships with their customers. William commented, “It has been a privilege to work with Worcester Bosch on this Initiative. It is true to say that first impressions do count, so I’m hoping young installers find my advice useful and are able to apply it to their working life.” Conor Evans, Head of Future Talent at Worcester Bosch, adds, “It has been great to have William onboard for our Future Talent Initiative. General etiquette are invaluable skills that are not necessarily taught at school, so we hope this can help young installers feel prepared when entering a customers’ home for the first time.” If you are a young installer, an apprentice, or just new to the industry, visit the Worcester Bosch YouTube here to access the Future Talent Initiative series.
Actis regional sales director and Women in Construction ambassador Jemma Harris has been inspiring young women to reject stereotypes and follow their dreams of a career in a male-dominated profession. Jemma, who is responsible for sales growth in the UK Northern region, was speaking to year 11 students at a school in Hull, and shared her own career path working in two very traditionally ‘macho’ environments – the Royal Navy, where she worked as a weapons engineer, and construction. She talked about the additional obstacles she, along with many women, faced to get to the top of the career tree – with advice on how to overcome them. She added that a depressing Gender Gap Index report report stated that it would take 108 years for society to close the global gender gap. She told them: “It sounds pretty boring selling insulation, but there’s actually a lot more to it than that. You get involved with the whole design and build process in construction and the eco side of things – saving the planet. “However, I have had to put the hard work in and overcome many obstacles, particularly as a woman in the industry that I currently work in and during my service in the Royal Navy. “I had to work that bit harder than the boys, particularly on board a ship. I was promoted later than others because I was a girl. I was overlooked for certain positions. These obstacles didn’t deter me from my goals. They made me more determined to succeed and prove myself to be just as good.” Her naval career also saw her receiving a medal for her role in the Gulf War, play football and win a physical fitness award. The talk inspired the young women to rethink their pre-conceived notions of the world of work, with 87.5% of them interested in pursuing a career in sales or business, as a result of what Jemma told them. Responses included: “Jemma’s talk gave us a chance to show young women that they can do anything that they actually want to do and that they don’t have to do the stereotypical ‘girl jobs’ and that girls are just as good as boys and that everything should be equal.” Another attendee said: “It helped open young minds that they shouldn’t listen to people who tell them that they can’t so something because they are a girl and that this is a ‘guy job.’”Jemma added: “Diversity and inclusion are always something industries should strive for. I’d like to think that, along with other women in the industry, we are making an impact and difference in inspiring the next female generation to get involved in construction.”