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,
Welsh Slate, part of the Breedon Group and the UK’s leading manufacturer of natural slate, has grown its sales team with the appointment of a specification sales manager for the South Wales and South-West region. John Steadman brings more than 25 years of natural slate sales experience to the position
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) have stated that the Chancellor of the exchequer is right to make the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible, in a bid to ensure it works for strategic industries such as the construction sector. That being said, they aren’t convinced his reforms have gone far enough.
Firstly, if you’ve got to the stage where you are thinking about making the first hire for your company, a huge congratulations is in order. After all, we don’t need to remind you about all of the damning statistics that do the rounds about new companies, and how many of
Housebuilder Story Homes has welcomed seven apprentices as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in and developing young talent, with this year’s cohort including the developer’s first female bricklaying apprentice. The new bricklaying, joinery and technical apprentices will work across Story Homes’ key regions of Cumbria and Scotland, the
To launch a series of Construction Careers Weeks taking place in Manchester, Birmingham and London this September and October, the winner of a national competition to design a campaign to encourage young people to consider a career in construction, as well as diversify the sector, has been announced. Built Environment
Leading utilities and construction training specialist Develop Training Limited (DTL) has welcomed a business development specialist with extensive experience in apprenticeships and further education onto its team. Appointed as Business Development Manager based at DTL’s Derby training centre, one of seven that the company operates across England, Scotland and Northern
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.
Welsh Slate, part of the Breedon Group and the UK’s leading manufacturer of natural slate, has grown its sales team with the appointment of a specification sales manager for the South Wales and South-West region. John Steadman brings more than 25 years of natural slate sales experience to the position after periods in regional and national sales with both UK and European manufacturers, some of which also involved manufactured building products/tiles. John considers he has reached the pinnacle in natural slate specification with Welsh Slate which is headquartered at its main Penrhyn Quarry near Bangor in North Wales. “I have been in natural slate sales for a long time and it’s great to have joined Welsh Slate who produce the best natural slate in the world,” he said. “I don’t think many people could argue that it’s not top of the range material. So I feel very positive, especially joining the company under the new Breedon Group ownership.” An avid Arsenal supporter and a six-times grandfather, John also joins the Welsh Slate sales team following the appointment earlier this year of former operations director Mark Hodgkinson as managing director.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) have stated that the Chancellor of the exchequer is right to make the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible, in a bid to ensure it works for strategic industries such as the construction sector. That being said, they aren’t convinced his reforms have gone far enough. “The Chancellor has, in part, listened to the concerns of businesses by making the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible. However, he needs to go much further,” said Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, and former Head of Uk Public Policy for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) as a response to the Chancellor’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference. As it stands 10% of Levy vouchers can currently be passed down through the supply chain from larger firms to smaller ones, but now Chancellor Philip Hammond, has stated that figure should instead be 25%. “This is important, in construction its the small firms that do the bulk of the training while the large firms don’t tend to directly employ or train tradespeople. Since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced last year, apprenticeships stats have fallen in the construction trades by more than 10%,” added Brian Berry. Given that the construction industry is already suffering from an acute shortage of skills, Brian Berry called this, “very worrying indeed.” He went on to say: “If the Chancellor is serious about ensuing the Levy has the desired effect, and increases meaningful training across all sectors, it should go further and make 100% of the vouchers transferable from large to small companies.” The FMB is non-profit making and independent, it works as a lobbying for members’ interests at both a local and national level. It stands as a source of knowledge, support and advice for members, while offering a range of modern and innovative building services to help members succeed and achieve. Committed to continuously keeping quality high and forever raising the bar on standards, they even offer a free service to consumers titled: “Find a builder.” Operating by constantly lobbying the Government to boost output and raise standards of both safety and professionalism in conduct at all levels, the FMB strive for a fair, safe and well structured construction sector at all times. The FMB is the largest trade association in the United Kingdom construction industry, and represents thousand of firms across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941, the aim of the FMB is to protect the interest of both medium and small sized construction firms.
Firstly, if you’ve got to the stage where you are thinking about making the first hire for your company, a huge congratulations is in order. After all, we don’t need to remind you about all of the damning statistics that do the rounds about new companies, and how many of them fail during the first years of operation. However, when it comes to that first hire, you might need to talk yourself round to the idea. This is the point in your company’s life where suddenly, you are responsible for someone else. The success of your business, or lack of it for that matter, could have a monumental effect on someone else. This is probably the reason so many myths about the early recruitment process are doing the rounds. Following on from the above, let’s now address some of these misconceptions and highlight the real truths about making that elusive first hire. Myth #1 – You’re not ready for your first hire This is something that a lot of young companies tell themselves; they fool themselves into thinking that they are just not ready for a first hire. Of course, there are times where this isn’t the case, and this is something that we will look at shortly. However, you need to remind yourself that there is only so far you can go with the DIY approach. Your time is limited; you might work as many hours as physically possible, but this is capped. As soon as you hire someone, your output can be doubled. It’s this impact what you really need to think about; you need to assess just how much more value someone else will bring, not about the salary that you are now going to have to pay out. Myth #2 – You are ready for your first hire To play devil’s advocate, some businesses are the opposite as above. They think that they are ready for their first hire on day one and unless they have huge budgets, this is seldom reality. Unfortunately, not all businesses are a success. You need to realize that there is a time to make a hire and if you still don’t have a steady stream of paying customers, taking on someone too early is a risky strategy. Myth #3 – You have to start with permanent employees Following on from the previous two points, there is a midpoint. We are now in the gig economy age; meaning that temporary work is more fashionable than ever before. A quick look at immediate start jobs London from Staff Heroes shows just how developed this market is, and there’s nothing stopping you from tapping into it. A lot of skilled workers are looking for temporary work, for personal circumstances, and by opting for this route you don’t have to commit to a full-time salary. To suggest that your first employee should be a permanent member of staff is ridiculous. Myth #4 – You have to pay top dollar for the best employees Does money play a part in the recruitment process? Of course, it does. Fortunately, there are other ways that you can play the recruitment game to your advantage. Being a young start-up, you need to prove your worth somehow, and offering the likes of flexi-time and smaller benefits can make you attractive for some people. Whether or not you will get the best in the business is another matter, but if you can show you will treat people well you might be surprised at the number of candidates who turn to your role.
Housebuilder Story Homes has welcomed seven apprentices as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in and developing young talent, with this year’s cohort including the developer’s first female bricklaying apprentice. The new bricklaying, joinery and technical apprentices will work across Story Homes’ key regions of Cumbria and Scotland, the North West and the North East. The new recruits were selected at an apprentice assessment centre earlier this year, beating tough competition from a number of high quality applicants. The recruitment of Chloe Bland, 22, is an important step for Story Homes in encouraging more females to apply for roles on its construction sites. Chloe, who has completed her Level 1 qualification in Bricklaying, commented: “Bricklaying runs in my family so I have wanted to follow this career path for as long as I can remember. I studied Health and Social Care at college and I considered professions such as hairdressing, but I just couldn’t imagine working long-term in a role that didn’t involve being hands-on out on site. “I find the concept of a bare plot of land being transformed into a beautiful home absolutely fascinating and I take a real sense of pride in being part of that journey. In future I hope I can progress my career with Story Homes, with the ultimate ambition of becoming a trainee site manager and even a site manager one day.” Story Homes’ apprenticeship scheme forms a key part of its strategy to ensure it can achieve its future plans, as well as making a contribution towards closing the growing skills gap in the housebuilding industry. The developer’s Aspire Apprenticeship Scheme, which launched in 2016, aims to recruit the brightest and most passionate school and college leavers from 16 years and upwards. Apprentices undertake a full development programme which includes working towards an NVQ Level 2 or Level 3, on-the-job training and the potential to move into trainee site management at the end of the programme. Before beginning their roles on-site and in the office, the apprentices completed a five-day residential team building and induction programme, aimed at building their confidence and problem-solving skills from the outset. Fred Story, chairman and CEO of Story Homes, said: “Our apprenticeship scheme has proved successful over the years, with a number of people recruited now in more senior roles. Bringing future talent into the business is very important to us so I am pleased to welcome our seven new apprentices. I look forward to seeing them working with their teams, developing their skills and contributing to our mission to design and build quality homes that people aspire to live in.”
To launch a series of Construction Careers Weeks taking place in Manchester, Birmingham and London this September and October, the winner of a national competition to design a campaign to encourage young people to consider a career in construction, as well as diversify the sector, has been announced. Built Environment Skills in Schools (BESS) – the organisation behind Construction Careers Week – teamed up with One Minute Briefs, a user-generated social media content community that challenges people to create an advertising concept in only one minute in response to a one sentence brief. In total, over 80 designs were submitted in 24 hours to BESS’ challenge to: “Create posters to inspire the next generation of construction workers to address the skills shortage and make the sector more diverse for #ConstructionCareersWeek.” The campaign generated 1,800 social media engagements and reached over 41,000 people online. The entries were whittled down to a shortlist of 13 and the winner – Yellow is the New Black, by David Felton was chosen as the winner by BESS. Kathryn Lennon Johnson, founder of BESS, said: “We were so impressed by the creativity that came from all the entries to our One Minute Brief challenge, and it was difficult to choose just one winner. The skills shortage in the construction industry is a major issues – and something we need as many people as possible to be aware of. Collaborating with One Minute Briefs gave us the opportunity to not only generate some amazing ads, but it also gave us a platform to communicate to people across the UK what we’re trying to achieve with Construction Careers Week. “We’ll show the designs to the students we meet during Construction Careers Weeks in Manchester, Birmingham and London to start conversations and challenge their perceptions of what a career is like in the sector.” Manchester Construction Careers Week starts 24 September, focusing on diversity and gender, with the Inspire Summit at the Bridgewater Hall on 25 September a key date. In Birmingham, the careers week starts 8 October, focusing on the future of construction and tech, with a number of activities taking place at UK Construction Week at the NEC Wednesday 10 October. Finally, London Construction Careers Week will take place from 15 October and focus on past, present and future. Additional activities will take place at London Build Thursday 25 October. For more information, visit the BESS website.
Leading utilities and construction training specialist Develop Training Limited (DTL) has welcomed a business development specialist with extensive experience in apprenticeships and further education onto its team. Appointed as Business Development Manager based at DTL’s Derby training centre, one of seven that the company operates across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, is James Evans from Leicester. In his new role, James will be responsible for managing key accounts, including major utility and construction companies, performing skills analysis, matching DTL’s training courses to customer needs, promoting apprenticeships and offering bespoke courses. “I am excited to be joining DTL and eager to make an impact straight away, giving my accounts a thorough analysis of their training needs. I’m looking forward to learning new skills and sectors at the same time as being able to bring both DTL and the companies we work with my knowledge of training and apprenticeships,” commented James on his new appointment. Before joining DTL, James spent nine years as business development manager at an FE college where he was responsible for the quality and delivery of various sectors, managing a team of assessors as well as marketing apprenticeships across a range of sectors. Prior to that, he was an trainer assessor with a private training provider. Married with three children, James coached his son’s junior football club and is a Leicester fan. He also enjoys running and outdoor activities with his family. DTL is the UK’s leading accredited provider of compliance, technical, and safety training, supporting thousands of firms with their needs. Clients include some of the UK’s largest and best-known organisations from the utilities and construction to the defence, healthcare, facilities management and telecommunications sectors. Training programmes cover water and environmental, gas and energy, safety, electrical and mechanical, apprenticeships and management development delivered at DTL’s seven dedicated training centres in Linlithgow near Edinburgh, Romford, York, Derby, Bolton, Swindon and Lisburn near Belfast, or onsite at clients’ premises. DTL also provides bespoke and consultancy services, tailoring training programmes and initiatives to the requirements of individual clients.