Keeping young people safe at work was top of the agenda at the latest Industry Skills Forum hosted by Develop Training Limited (DTL). The event attracted senior apprenticeship and HR managers from major construction, infrastructure and utilities companies. Safeguarding to prevent abuse and harm is a hot topic, as large
An innovative scheme designed to attract new talent into the built environment industry has secured the backing of three high-profile firms that have won work across the globe. Black & White Engineering (B&W), s h e d and James Christopher Consulting are the latest companies to become sponsors of PlanBEE
Unispace has made a senior hire to its project Delivery team, appointing Jason Cissell as Principal, Delivery for projects spanning the United Kingdom, based in its London studio. With more than 15 years’ experience across the construction sector, Jason brings real depth of knowledge to Unispace. In his new role,
A report by Open University showed that the UK skills gap is a major and well-publicised crisis that costs the country more than £2 billion a year. Further findings have stated 97% of organisations working in STEM and 96% of financial organisations have had difficulty hiring skilled employees over the
Develop Training Ltd (DTL), a leading training provider to the construction sector, is working with Ridgewood Environmental Ltd to stress the need to prepare workers against the threat posed by asbestos in the ground. Ridgewood Environmental Ltd and third-party provider, DTL, have recently been approved by UKATA to deliver a
A purpose-built construction academy, one of the first of its kind in the UK, has been launched by Berkeley and West London College. The West London Construction Academy has officially opened in Southall Waterside and it aims the tackle the U’s construction skills crisis and address the exodus of talent
Whether you are self-employed or a tradesman from a building company, it is necessary to find the right tradesman insurance that will keep you and your customers out of harm’s way. Don’t start a project if you are not fully covered for any accidents or problems, as these can seriously
The Dulux Academy has been officially recognised as an outstanding provider of training by becoming a CiTB Approved Training Organisation (CiTB ATO). The endorsement is a result of the exceptional training provided by the Dulux Academy where courses designed to help decorators upskill, build their business and hone their design
12 trainees have started their professional training in a M&E Consultancy in Solihull. Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has welcomed the trainees, who will specialise in an array of areas, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, lighting, public health and finance. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to complete industry-recognised qualifications,
Wendy Ajuwon has been appointed Head of Marketing at the British Board of Agrément, the UK’s leading building products certification organisation. Wendy, a CIM Chartered Marketer, joined the BBA earlier this year, bringing with her more than 15 years of experience spanning all aspects of media production, public relations, advertising,
Keeping young people safe at work was top of the agenda at the latest Industry Skills Forum hosted by Develop Training Limited (DTL). The event attracted senior apprenticeship and HR managers from major construction, infrastructure and utilities companies. Safeguarding to prevent abuse and harm is a hot topic, as large firms look to take on more young apprentices under the government’s levy scheme. The round table event also highlighted Prevent, the government’s initiative to avoid radicalisation of young people. Tanya Parkin, DTL’s HR Manager and safeguarding lead, outlined how the company is tackling the safeguarding issue as an approved apprenticeship provider. The presentation, co-hosted by Andy Holmes, DTL’s Head of Audit and Quality, raised key discussion points around the shared responsibilities of the training provider and its corporate customers. Describing DTL’s journey since becoming an approved apprenticeship provider under the levy, Tanya said: “We have implemented a safeguarding and prevent strategy in the business. Our board of directors is really engaged with the subject, which has allowed us to roll out the strategy in our processes and training documentation.” “Safeguarding in the workplace is focused on under 18s but not confined to that age group,” she explained. DTL relies on the government’s document Safeguarding: Keeping Children Safe in Education for its policies on keeping apprentices safe. The guidelines outline processes for recruitment and training of teaching staff and others working with young people, as well as the duties of designated responsible persons. A second presentation by an expert in extremism outlined the risks posed by radicalisation and how the Prevent initiative operates to combat the threat. Providers such as DTL have a duty to refer young people who appear to be at risk of radicalisation to a specialist panel as well as to incorporate British values into the learning process. To find out more about DTL and to download a range of useful resources visit www.developtraining.co.uk/safeguarding www.developtraining.co.uk
An innovative scheme designed to attract new talent into the built environment industry has secured the backing of three high-profile firms that have won work across the globe. Black & White Engineering (B&W), s h e d and James Christopher Consulting are the latest companies to become sponsors of PlanBEE (Built Environment Education), a unique, flexible training programme designed to attract and retain the brightest new talent in the region, plug skills gaps and create a more flexible workforce capable of working across various construction disciplines. The scheme was launched in 2016 when Gateshead College and Ryder Architecture formed a powerful alliance with a network of architects, designers, contractors and engineering specialists. Rather than follow a traditional training model where students complete their qualifications while working in one company, PlanBEE gives trainees the chance to work across several companies and therefore gain a more rounded understanding of the built environment industry. Students will now benefit from a wider range of expertise with B&W, Shed and James Christopher Consulting on board. Launched in the United Arab Emirates in 2007, B&W is a pioneering mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design consultancy with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Baku, Manila, London and Newcastle. The company offers design and consultancy services to the construction industry worldwide and has worked on numerous large-scale iconic projects including high-rise towers, data centres, hotels, shopping malls and airports. Steven Horn, director, in B&W’s Newcastle office said: “We need to see more young people coming into our industry with knowledge of different areas of the built environment. The way PlanBEE is structured allows us to achieve this. The programme is ideal preparation for how we want to develop our staff, which is to give them opportunities to experience different ways of working on various projects around the world.” Newcastle-based s h e d is a structural and civil engineering design consultancy that specialises in complex engineering design and Building Information Modelling (BIM), an approach that helps firms risk-assess projects at an early stage by generating intelligent 3D models of buildings before construction takes place. Marc Horn of s h e d said: “Our expertise in BIM requires us to recruit staff with a rounded understanding of the built environment sector. PlanBEE enables us to achieve this because it moves away from traditional off-the-shelf training schemes that shoehorn professionals into narrowly defined roles in a single company.” James Christopher Consulting, an established engineering practice in Gateshead, offers design services to the built environment sector and works on a wide range of projects, from small-scale specialist structures to large-scale commercial developments including land reclamation and drainage works. Technical director Craig Higgins said: “We were delighted to get involved with PlanBEE and were impressed with this novel approach to recruiting, training and developing staff. There’s a strong emphasis on the application of digital technologies to different types of construction projects and we want our workforce to be at the forefront of this revolution.” Working with Gateshead College, the PlanBEE group has created a bespoke higher-level skills programme that provides budding professionals with study and off-the-job training at the college’s construction facility on Team Valley, along with a job working with some of the region’s leading companies. It has been tailored specifically for and by the North East construction sector, providing students with a starting salary of £10,700 per year, a professional qualification and a guaranteed job opportunity on graduation. Established by Ryder Architecture, the scheme has already attracted some high-profile names, including Brims Construction, NBS, Desco (Design & Consultancy), BIM Academy, Sir Robert McAlpine, Xsite Architecture, Robertson, 3e Consulting, Cundall, Arup, FaulknerBrowns, Sadler Brown Architecture and Tolent. Chris Toon, deputy principal at Gateshead College, said: “It’s great to have three additional sponsors on board. The industry has called for employees to be skilled in a greater range of disciplines, such as surveying, landscaping, architecture and planning, and PlanBEE addresses this fundamental need. “We proud to be at the forefront of an industry-led initiative that’s becoming a national exemplar for the recruitment and development of construction employees.” Mark Thompson, managing partner at Ryder Architecture, added: It’s fantastic to see the positive impact the programme is making on the students and sponsoring businesses, and we’re delighted to be welcoming the new sponsors to our third cohort.” For more information about the programme, or to get involved, visit http://www.gateshead.ac.uk/planbee/ or contact Helen Craddock at Ryder on 0191 269 5454.
Unispace has made a senior hire to its project Delivery team, appointing Jason Cissell as Principal, Delivery for projects spanning the United Kingdom, based in its London studio. With more than 15 years’ experience across the construction sector, Jason brings real depth of knowledge to Unispace. In his new role, he will be leading the project management team in the UK from Unispace’s studio in Southwark, working across projects such as Amazon, Cummins, Herbert Smith Freehills, and Sisk Healthcare. Barry Anderson, Regional Principal, Delivery, EMEA at Unispace, said: “It has been our strategy to hire leaders to the business, further enhancing Unispace’s regional footprint but also ensuring that our clients have the best advice from senior industry figures. Jason brings an excellent track record and significant experience with industry-leading clients to the Unispace project delivery team. We are very pleased to have him on board. “We are continuously working to ensure that we are elevating our delivery product and Jason will help us achieve that goal. He is passionate about quality, HSE, best practice site experience and alignment with brand.” Jason brings extensive industry experience having worked across projects such as the £45m Fujitsu’s Data Centre and Offices in Stevenage, an Aviation Framework and the London Luton Airport development. “Unispace’s unique model really sets it apart in the industry and created a very compelling reason to join the team. Unispace has developed in response to this new market and the brand’s growth in a short period of time is testament to its resonance with clients”, explained Jason Cissell, Principal, Delivery at Unispace. “This new role in the London studio is a chance to combine my experience across multiple sectors for Unispace’s client base and work with its world class local, European and Global teams
A report by Open University showed that the UK skills gap is a major and well-publicised crisis that costs the country more than £2 billion a year. Further findings have stated 97% of organisations working in STEM and 96% of financial organisations have had difficulty hiring skilled employees over the last 12 months. The research team at Bidwells has decided to find out more and compared industry vacancies against undergraduate enrolments in 2017 to uncover which areas have the most significant shortages. They found that a combination of valuable economic skills and high-level technical education is critical to meet the UK’s skills needs, yet despite growing student enrolment in fields like computer science and tech, new jobs in these high-growth sectors still outweigh the number of skilled workers to fill them. The analysis of the university enrolments demonstrates the mismatch between market demand for skills and the future supply of talent is particularly acute in knowledge-based industries. This suggests current vacancies in professional and scientific tech positions are three times higher than the total number of university enrolments in these subjects. Science and tech jobs are predicted to grow twice as fast as other occupations, with 142,000 new jobs in science, research, engineering and tech anticipated by 2023. Looking further ahead, The London Datastore projects the information and communication sector will be the second highest growing sector over the coming decade in the UK, with an estimated 45% increase in employment growth by 2050. According to the Industrial Strategy, these sectors are the most significant to the UK’s economic future, but the shortages of suitably qualified, high-skilled labour will present a brake on the UK economy unless addressed. Will Heighman, Lead Partner for Science and Technology at Bidwells, suggested the solution would be investing in local and foreign talent. “The UK urgently needs to put in place measures to both deliver homegrown talent for the future as well as ease the process for attracting the best in class globally,” he concluded.
Develop Training Ltd (DTL), a leading training provider to the construction sector, is working with Ridgewood Environmental Ltd to stress the need to prepare workers against the threat posed by asbestos in the ground. Ridgewood Environmental Ltd and third-party provider, DTL, have recently been approved by UKATA to deliver a brand new Asbestos in Soils training course. In order to launch the training they are inviting employers to attend one of two free seminars on Thursday 8th November at DTL’s Derby centre. The seminars will allow employers to view some of the course content, meet the training team and ultimately find out if the training is suitable for their employees. Several external speakers will also be in attendance, including representatives from Tanglewood Environment and Dyne Solicitors who will be discussing legislation and duty of care for asbestos contaminated soil. Jim Donnelly, a training delivery manager at DTL, said: “The menace from asbestos in buildings is well known but it can also be hazardous when disturbed in the soil. Finding it beforehand is a challenge for construction site managers. The substance may be present as fragments of insulation materials visible to the naked eye or as micro fibres requiring scientific tests to confirm their presence.” He added: “People need the skills to conduct proper risk assessment and to implement a range of other steps depending on the nature and scale of the problem.” Those steps could include ensuring licensed personnel carry out remediation work, informing the Health and Safety Executive of the incident and providing protective equipment including respirators. Disposing of waste and decontaminating operatives may also be required, and air monitoring might be set up on site or near to neighbouring homes. At the seminars, representatives from Ridgewood Environmental and DTL will unveil their latest training course, UKATA Asbestos in Soils. The course, delivered by third-party provider DTL, is tailored towards supervisors, managers and CDM duty holders who may work on sites where asbestos is present. Attendees will be able to see course content first-hand, and ask questions of DTL’s expert trainers and delivery team. Date: Thursday 8th November 2018 Location: Develop Training, Derby Training Centre, Ascot Drive, DE24 8GW Seminar 1: 9:30 – 12:00 Seminar 2: 13:00 – 15:30 Both seminars will contain the same content. The seminars have already attracted attention from DTL’s existing high profile customer list that includes leading construction and utility firms, private companies and public sector organisations, with the morning session already almost fully booked. To book a free space, go to http://resources.developtraining.co.uk/asbestos_in_soils_seminars_nov2018
A purpose-built construction academy, one of the first of its kind in the UK, has been launched by Berkeley and West London College. The West London Construction Academy has officially opened in Southall Waterside and it aims the tackle the U’s construction skills crisis and address the exodus of talent from the industry. More people are leaving the construction industry than joining it, threatening productivity and growth, according to recent figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. With a shortage of homes, it is vital that the sector tackles the skills crisis head on. If it does not the workforce will decrease by 20–25% in the next decade. “The West London Construction Academy aims to address the industry’s skills gap for the long term by inspiring the next generation and preparing them for the world of work, including giving them the best chance of securing a placement at the end of their apprenticeships,” said Berkeley Group Chief Executive Rob Perrins. Berkeley Group, together with West London College and trade partners, have designed a new ‘By Industry, For Industry’ curriculum. Apprentices will gain on-the-job experience alongside classroom and online learning, bridging the skills gap for the long term and allowing students to earn as they learn. The courses available are services vital to the industry, such as bricklaying, plastering, dry-lining and carpentry and are open to anyone aged 16 and above. All apprentices will benefit from individual support from business champions and mentors. Apprentices graduating from the academy will be given the best chance of securing employment at the end of their courses – putting their skills to use straight away. A number of positions will be available with Berkeley and its supply chain at Southall Waterside itself. “West London has a number of major projects either planned or underway, from Southall Waterside and HS2, to Crossrail and Old Oak Common; training local people will be integral to the success and timely delivery of these projects – and will be an incredible opportunity to build experience and establish desirable skills. West London College is thrilled to be in the position to offer such an incredible facility to the industry,” said Karen Redhead, Chief Executive at West London College.
Whether you are self-employed or a tradesman from a building company, it is necessary to find the right tradesman insurance that will keep you and your customers out of harm’s way. Don’t start a project if you are not fully covered for any accidents or problems, as these can seriously harm your bank balance and reputation as a tradesman. Instead, here are some ideas for what you can ask an insurer when you are looking to settle on the right form of insurance for your business. How much is tradesman insurance? It is natural that we all want to find the best deals that we can when looking into the different forms of insurance for work. As either a small business owner or an independent worker, you want a good form of insurance that can incorporate multiple benefits, rather than focusing on either you or the customer as solely protected. With public liability insurance, you want to be paying between £100 and £150 for protection against any legal claims that could arise due to an accident in the workplace. Avoid paying more than what you need for your insurance by looking into no obligation insurance quote comparison for tradesmen. Only pay for the things that you genuinely need. Do I only need public liability insurance? Though public liability insurance does cover general accident cover for both you and your customers, it does not cause all damage that could happen while you are out working. For instance, if you were fitting a boiler and it was stolen, this would not be covered by the insurance. Instead, you would need contract works cover. This is why you need to look into different insurances to see what would best suit your workload. What other types of insurance should I look into? It does not matter if you are an experienced workman, accidents and problems can happen – and you cannot let the financial burden of these destroy your business. Here are some additional insurances that you should look into should you want to keep fully covered: • Product liability and indemnity insurance • Employers liability insurance • Financial loss Insurance • Professional indemnity insurance. • Income and life insurance Can I combine my insurance? This is a very smart way of thinking for a smaller business that is looking to reduce its insurance costs by investing in one policy. Look into an appropriate insurance broker to enable yourself to locate subcontracts that can create one policy for product and public liability to keep the cost affordable for both you and for any tradesmen employed under you. Can I get cover for my tools? A tradesman without his tools is like a human without air. You cannot be a worker without being insured for any potential tools that could be stolen, become problematic or break while you are on a job. Some insurances offer 24-hour cover – for instance, if your tools are locked in a van overnight by mistake. However, be warned that your insurers will want to see evidence that you tried to prevent the theft.
The Dulux Academy has been officially recognised as an outstanding provider of training by becoming a CiTB Approved Training Organisation (CiTB ATO). The endorsement is a result of the exceptional training provided by the Dulux Academy where courses designed to help decorators upskill, build their business and hone their design knowledge are continuously delivered to defined and industry-agreed standards. Now approved courses – which include spray (Introduction, Advanced HVLP, Advanced Airless), craft skills (Gilding, Marbling, Graining) and wallpapering (spanning five courses from Digital Murals and Feature Walls, to Relief Papers) – will carry the coveted CiTB endorsement. This new status will also allow the Dulux Academy to pass on financial benefits to attendees. All attendees, who are registered with the CiTB and meet the general grants scheme eligibility requirements, will be part of the CiTB’s automated grant payments system. Short course grants are also available for all directly employed Pay As You Earn (PAYE) staff and all sub contractors, with between £30 and £70 available per individual. “Becoming a CiTB Approved Training Organisation is a key milestone in our ambition to develop skills across the decorating industry. Setting ourselves up provides instant benefit for our customers who are CiTB contributors and confirms our reputation for delivering quality training meeting the needs of the construction industry,” said Vickie Mather, Dulux Academy Manager. When enrolling on a course via www.duluxacademy.co.uk simply register your CITB registration number and the names of who you wish to claim for and Dulux Academy will manage the reimbursement. Launched in March 2016, Dulux Academy is the UK’s first dedicated academy for professionals in the domestic and commercial decoration industry. It offers a range of courses designed to help decorators develop their skills and expertise, putting them in the best position to set themselves apart from their competition and provide peerless – and in demand – services to their customers. To date, more than 4,500 individuals have trained with the Dulux Academy across their numerous UK locations.
12 trainees have started their professional training in a M&E Consultancy in Solihull. Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) has welcomed the trainees, who will specialise in an array of areas, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, lighting, public health and finance. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to complete industry-recognised qualifications, as well as receive in-house mentoring from the firm’s experienced team. “I really enjoyed studying lighting within an interior design module as part of my course so I was particularly interested in the opportunity of a trainee role at CPW advertised through my university,” said Danielle Smith, the firm’s new trainee lighting designer, who recently graduated from Birmingham City University with a degree in textiles design. “Lighting design takes my existing skillset one step further as you have to ensure the end product not only looks great but is also functional and viable. Bringing my creativity into an engineering world gives a fresh perspective which I think CPW really like. “We’ve learnt so much already on the training programme. I have been on site visiting projects and speaking to clients, which has been brilliant. Engineering isn’t very well promoted to women which needs to change as it’s definitely not just a man’s industry – so far I’ve loved every second,” she added. The Director at CPW, Wayne Eustace, also commented on the company’s commitment to supporting the youth in the industry. “”We pride ourselves in being ahead of the curve in supporting the next generation of engineers, offering traineeships, apprenticeships and vocational training as well as offering mentoring opportunities throughout colleges and universities across the country.” “Many of our past trainees have achieved high grades in their qualifications, which really highlights how much of an impact mentoring can have on young engineers throughout their academic studies,” Wayne concluded.
Wendy Ajuwon has been appointed Head of Marketing at the British Board of Agrément, the UK’s leading building products certification organisation. Wendy, a CIM Chartered Marketer, joined the BBA earlier this year, bringing with her more than 15 years of experience spanning all aspects of media production, public relations, advertising, customer experience and marketing gained around the globe working for – and with – a broad range of organisations including the BBC, Subaru Motors and Samsung. She holds a Masters degree in Media Production from the University of Central England and a BA (Hons) from the University of Wolverhampton “Working at the BBA gives me the opportunity to help shape the marketing direction of a pedigreed organisation that provides expert service in Product Approval and Certification, Audit and Inspection and Testing to construction product manufacturers. It is a role I inhabit with pride,” said Wendy. “In addition to this, helping to promote the core values of courage, integrity, quality, loyalty, collaboration, passion and accountability that the BBA embodies and strives to provide to construction product manufacturers, trade associations, specifiers, contractors, the government and the public at large, gives me a sense of purpose and achievement. These lofty ideals and realistic execution displayed by staff and management as they continually push bounds to create excellence in the industry and for the public interest, has made this an ideal place for me,” she added. The British Board of Agrément was formed in 1966 and offers installer approval and certification and test services to manufacturers of construction products and systems. It is also the UK’s leading authority on the assessment of insulation products and installation techniques. BBA Certification is universally recognised as a mark of quality, safety and reliability that a product is fit-for-purpose.
