The 28% fall in construction apprenticeship starts between August 2017 and March 2018 compared with the same period the previous academic year suggests the Government needs to look again at the way the Apprenticeship Levy is working, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Commenting on statistics published today
R G Carter, a construction firm, will be holding a series of site visits for the construction students from the University of Bedfordshire so that they can gain further insight into the industry. Currently, the company is building a new four-storey STEM teaching space at the University’s Luton campus, which
The recent Why not physics? – a snapshot of females uptake at A-level report foreword from Professor Dame Julia Higgins, claims that “an ill-judged quip that girls ‘can’t’ do maths, or physics is ‘too hard’, can lead to girls making life-changing decisions that alter the subject they study or the
Ahead of the International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) 2018, celebrated on the 23rd of June, Emma Cygan, design and development engineer at steering system supplier Pailton Engineering, has decided to crush a few misconceptions about women working as engineers. ‘Women are only good at soft skills’ Due to stereotypical
Construction and utilities specialist Develop Training Ltd (DTL) is opening the doors of its Midlands and Scotland based centres throughout July to promote skills in the energy sector. The company, which is a strong advocate for greater investment in training and apprenticeships by industry and the government, is running three
With little under a month to go until the highly-anticipated 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations come into force, Bureau Veritas is calling on duty holders to step up efforts aimed at reducing the safety risk posed by poor electrics. Due to be published in July, BS 7671 –
Abbiegail Hill has been appointed by Voestalpine Metsec plc as part of the company’s commitment to bridging the skills gap and encouraging women to consider engineering and manufacturing roles. The scheme offers a fast-track approach and requires the apprentice to attend college four days a week with the remaining day
Kier, together with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), will be launching a new education initiative in Wales, which will create effective links between local schools and the Kier supply chain. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to inspire the next generation of talent to consider a career within
Leading independent construction, property and management consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK), has announced today the appointment of two new senior appointments further bolstering its Facilities Management (FM) Consultancy offer. Dr Rachel Dick, has been appointed as Associate Facilities Management consultant and joins RLB in London from the RICS
Manchester based Nikal Group has welcomed Darren Jones, previously Managing Director of Himor Group and Director of Economic Development at Oldham Council, as Development Director. “We are delighted that Darren has joined us. He brings to the team 30 years’ of private and public sector experience in regeneration, development and
The 28% fall in construction apprenticeship starts between August 2017 and March 2018 compared with the same period the previous academic year suggests the Government needs to look again at the way the Apprenticeship Levy is working, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Commenting on statistics published today by the Department for Education (DfE), Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Government’s own statistics show a 28% per cent plunge in apprenticeship starts over the current academic year so far. The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in April 2017 to boost apprenticeship training across all business sectors but so far it seems to be having the opposite effect. Some reforms are obvious and need to be looked at more urgently now. The Government should allow large companies to pass more of their Levy vouchers down through their supply chains if the company itself is not in a position to train apprentices. Currently large firms are only permitted to pass 10% of their Levy funds down to their sub-contractors and others in their supply chain. There needs to be much greater flexibility than this. In the construction sector, larger firms often do not directly employ on-site tradespeople or directly train apprentices and so there is a real danger this industry and others will continue to fail to take advantage of the Apprenticeship Levy if we can’t change this.” Berry concluded: “These figures have been published shortly after the FMB’s latest research which shows that small construction firms are experiencing record highs in terms of skills shortages. In the long term, the only way we will be able to address the chronic skills crisis is by recruiting and training more new entrants. We know that 58% of builders are struggling to hire bricklayers and 55% are having difficulties finding carpenters and joiners. We need to iron out the flaws in the Apprenticeship Levy and reverse this decline in apprenticeships to give us the best chance of tackling these skills shortages.”
R G Carter, a construction firm, will be holding a series of site visits for the construction students from the University of Bedfordshire so that they can gain further insight into the industry. Currently, the company is building a new four-storey STEM teaching space at the University’s Luton campus, which makes for the perfect opportunity to observe and learn about the project in action. “We are proud to provide the next generation with the opportunity to visit a live construction site. It gives them a taste of what happens in real-time which is crucial to their understanding of practice in the construction industry,” said Doug Stephen, Project Manager at R G Carter. The initiative was organised by the site team, together with university lecturer Dr James Bishop, who made sure the visits were aligned with the curriculum and students could see the various stages of the construction, from demolition right through to the mainframe taking shape. This approach has supported the students’ learning to help them understand the different methods and phases of a large construction development. “It is great to get out of the classroom and be on-site to see all the different aspects of working on a project of this scale, from the foundations up to the concrete structure. The visits have brought to life my studies, helping me visualise elements when writing assignments,” said Hayden Bartram, a student from the university. The STEM building is due to open in September 2019 and will include teaching and laboratory spaces, as well as a new Science and Engineering Outreach Centre. This will allow the University to offer a wide range of new science courses including Pharmacy, Nutrition, Biochemistry, Geology and Mechanical Engineering. R G Carter has been a family owned and run business for over 95 years, putting people and communities at the heart of what they do. Through its network of regional offices, the firm offers full-service construction solutions, such as design, build, refurbishment and repairs, across a wide range of sectors.
The recent Why not physics? – a snapshot of females uptake at A-level report foreword from Professor Dame Julia Higgins, claims that “an ill-judged quip that girls ‘can’t’ do maths, or physics is ‘too hard’, can lead to girls making life-changing decisions that alter the subject they study or the career they pursue.” In anticipation of International Women in Engineering Day on June 23, 2018, Lucy Speed, HR advisor at engineering solutions provider Boulting Ltd, explores what employers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) industries can do to attract more females into the sector. Engineering contributes 26 per cent of the UK’s GDP every year, yet reports suggest that the industry is facing an unprecedented skills shortage. But what can employers realistically do to encourage the next generation of female graduates to consider STEM as a viable career option? Role models and mentors Adopting a mentorship or simple ‘buddy’ system can help women that are joining the workplace feel like they aren’t alone in a disproportionate sector. Pairing employees up to share experience and knowledge helps to create an inclusive environment and can be beneficial in terms of retaining staff that thrive with social stimulation, particularly women. According to the Women Engineering Society (WES), who set up its own mentorship program to specifically support women in STEM roles, those who participated in the scheme benefited from increased confidence, improved listening and coaching skills as well as employment progression. At Boulting, we support our staff with dedicated mentors who support employees to achieve their goals across all levels of the organisation. Flexibility is key Providing a work environment that accommodates flexibility for different personal needs can also be beneficial in attracting female employees. Having an understanding for an individual’s needs, whether that be childcare requirements or being able to schedule time off work around holidays will allow your team members to reaffirm their work-life balance. Natalie Pancheri, HR policy advisor at the London School of Economics also says that “embedding a culture of flexibility begins to chip away at the types of issues that can prevent women from advancing in their careers.” It really can be win-win all round. Young minds By capturing the minds of the next generation of female STEM graduates, we will begin to see an increase in the number of girls pursuing a career in the sector. However, a lot of the work to do this must start at school level. Integrating STEM-style learning through dedicated activities or guest speaker sessions from those in the industry into classrooms, will begin to pave the way for students to consider their future paths. Working with and supporting teachers to understand what a STEM career can actually entail will also open up conversations with students about what is possible. Additionally, organisations, like Boulting, that incorporate student reach-out or collaboration programmes to help harness the enthusiasm and talent from younger generations has the potential to lead to more interest in STEM education and apprenticeship opportunities. At Boulting we have a longstanding and successful apprenticeship scheme that has been the springboard for many employees’ careers in the organisation. Our scheme offers the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and experience across a wide range of engineering sectors including chemical, pharmaceutical, petro-chemical and renewable energy markets. While some progress has been made to encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM industries, women are still firmly in the minority. Particularly in UK engineering, where, according to the Women in Engineering Society (WES), the UK has the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe and only eleven per cent of the engineering workforce is female. It’s important for organisations in the engineering sector to recognise the importance, and potential, of the future female workforce and secure any opportunity to help promote science, technology, engineering and maths as exciting and rewarding prospective career path.
Ahead of the International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) 2018, celebrated on the 23rd of June, Emma Cygan, design and development engineer at steering system supplier Pailton Engineering, has decided to crush a few misconceptions about women working as engineers. ‘Women are only good at soft skills’ Due to stereotypical gender roles, some women reach adulthood and have a subconscious idea that they must find a career that uses their communication skills and empathy. However, interaction skills are not gender-exclusive and both men and women should strive for it. If you are particularly affluent in the soft skills department, do not suppress this quality, as they are highly sought by employers and they are often required to enable the harder, more technical skills. ‘Women can’t reach top positions in engineering’ Women should be confident that they have the same potential for career progression as their male equivalents. “So far in my career, I have progressed from an apprentice, to my current role as a Design and Development engineer. In the future, it will continue to be my skills that determine how quickly I will move up the job ladder, not my gender,” said Emma. This point is also validated by the Women in Engineering annual Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35, in which many of the women featured are in senior and managerial roles and at a relatively young age. Statistically, there are more men at the top of the engineering industry, but that’s inevitable, providing there are more men at the bottom. However, initiatives such as INWED will change this and help more women see a career in engineering as a viable and rewarding option. ‘Women aren’t supported by their employers’ At Pailton Engineering, Emma is currently receiving the right support to study for an engineering bachelor’s degree, while keeping her job. “If Pailton Engineering wasn’t invested in me, or didn’t see a future with me as a key decision maker in the company, then this investment wouldn’t have been made,” said Emma. While the INWED 2018 is raising the bar for women in engineering, there are still plenty of myths and misconceptions about working in the industry that must be quashed. “I hope I’ve raised the bar for other women to start an engineering career, even if I did use this bar to obliterate the myths that are currently circulating —someone had to do it,” concluded Emma.
Construction and utilities specialist Develop Training Ltd (DTL) is opening the doors of its Midlands and Scotland based centres throughout July to promote skills in the energy sector. The company, which is a strong advocate for greater investment in training and apprenticeships by industry and the government, is running three open days in Derby and Linlithgow near Edinburgh. The free-to-attend events are designed for organisations with an interest in training for gas, mechanical and electrical engineering, smart metering, mechanical and electrical engineering training. Open day visitors will be given a tour of the company’s top-of-the-range facilities in Derby and Linlithgow with live demonstrations of the company’s control rig, medium pressure apparatus and smart metering equipment. Visitors will also have the opportunity to give their views on the content of DTL’s extensive range of training courses in gas/energy. There has been strong interest in the events already from DTL’s customers, who include household names in the utilities and construction sector, with spaces filling up quickly. Further details with information on how to book can be found here. www.developtraining.co.uk About Develop Training Develop Training Limited (DTL) is the UK’s leading accredited provider of compliance, technical, and safety training, supporting thousands of firms with their training 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. www.developtraining.co.uk
With little under a month to go until the highly-anticipated 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations come into force, Bureau Veritas is calling on duty holders to step up efforts aimed at reducing the safety risk posed by poor electrics. Due to be published in July, BS 7671 – IET Wiring Regulations 18th edition will apply to all new and rewired installations designed after January 2019. The legislation is set to include a number of significant changes in relation to protection against fire, protection against overvoltages and clarity on special location installations, in a bid to optimise safety in domestic, industrial and commercial locations. The more stringent standards will look to address the risks presented by faulty electrical installations and wiring systems, after estimates show that electricity is the leading cause of over 20,000 accidental fires in the UK each year1. In the run up to implementation, global certification firm Bureau Veritas is urging all duty holders to review their existing electrical safety standards and intensify their ‘safety first’ approach to compliance. Nathan Cliff, electrical principal engineer for electrical systems at Bureau Veritas, said: “With poor electrical installations still responsible for five accidents in the UK every single day, it’s no surprise the 18th Edition will force us as an industry to place a greater emphasis on the protection of people. “For duty holders, our advice is clear – do not wait until the regulations take hold to take action. Instead, start by reviewing existing electrical safety protocols to ensure they take a ‘safety first’ approach to protecting employees, students and residents so that best practice is achieved every step of the way.” According to Bureau Veritas, one important aspect for duty holders to consider is that the 18th edition puts a greater onus on a risk assessment when it comes to protection against transient overvoltage (e.g. lightning) required for buildings to protect against the risk of fires and loss of supply. In addition, protection must be provided for high risk and sensitive locations, such as medical locations, heritage buildings, banks, IT centres etc. Nathan adds: “For many, these new regulations will no doubt be hard to decipher and put into practice. However, it’s literally a matter of life and death for duty holders to get to grips with these reforms as soon as they can as achieving compliance now ahead of the January 2019 deadline will, ultimately, help to save lives.” To find out more about Bureau Veritas please call 0345 600 1828 or email info@uk.bureauveritas.com. Alternatively, please visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
Abbiegail Hill has been appointed by Voestalpine Metsec plc as part of the company’s commitment to bridging the skills gap and encouraging women to consider engineering and manufacturing roles. The scheme offers a fast-track approach and requires the apprentice to attend college four days a week with the remaining day spent on the job for the first six months of the course. “We recognise the importance of diversity in the construction industry and therefore it is important that UK engineering, construction and manufacturing companies seek female talent going forward and ensure the next generation is fully aware of the exciting opportunities available,” said Stephen Giles, environmental, safety and training manager at Metsec. “Metsec is taking proactive steps to bring more women into the industry and we regularly attend local schools to initiate interest and discuss the options surrounding our work experience placements.” Abbiegail Hill has been employed within the structural design department and will spend all of her course in full-time employment as an apprentice. This approach provides students with the relevant technical knowledge to excel when working on site and to achieve the NVQ Level 3 qualification more quickly in comparison to other schemes. At the end of her six months, Metsec will then recruit another student, while allowing the apprentice to move into a full time position. “Apprenticeships are a key part of Metsec’s culture as they bring fresh ideas and ensure we’re a strong competitive force in the market, and we welcome Abbiegail to the team. She is now one of three apprentices working towards a career in our structural design department, with each student having their own specialism at the end of their course,” said Stephen. This award winning scheme has seen more than 100 engineering apprentices join Metsec over the last two decades. Metsec apprentices have the opportunity to experience every aspect of the business and have access to the latest technology in the company’s state-of-the-art facility.
Kier, together with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), will be launching a new education initiative in Wales, which will create effective links between local schools and the Kier supply chain. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to inspire the next generation of talent to consider a career within the built environment. The Educational Engagement Programme will be launched at a special event on the 4th of June, taking place at Technium 2, The University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Schools, alternative curriculum providers and local employers from the industry will have the opportunity to come together and create links and external partnerships in order to better promote the diverse range of future career opportunities for young people. Moreover, those attending will learn about the purpose of the programme and how it can add value to their priorities as a school or business. Speakers at the event include Emma Banfield and Paul Evans from the Welsh Government initiative Inspiring Skills Wales, who will present on their partnership with Kier and how they can add value to the programme through the provision of innovative toolkits and construction-based competitions available to schools. “This programme is absolutely pivotal for the construction industry to deliver the extensive pipeline of work in Wales. This initiative will offer a truly unique approach with the development of a construction education tool that will help breakdown perceptions and showcase the wealth of job opportunities available within the built environment. Our industry has so much to offer and I am looking forward to the roll-out and reception to this inspiring initiative,” said Jason Taylor, Kier Construction Western and Wales, operations director. Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and Careers Wales are the partners of the programme, both of them attending the launch event. The three-year initiative was funded by the CITBH and managed by Kier, as it aims to transform the perception of careers in the built environment, bridging the future skills gap.
Leading independent construction, property and management consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK), has announced today the appointment of two new senior appointments further bolstering its Facilities Management (FM) Consultancy offer. Dr Rachel Dick, has been appointed as Associate Facilities Management consultant and joins RLB in London from the RICS where she was Senior Consultant, Data Services. Karl Redmond, also joins as Associate Facilities Management consultant and will be based at RLB in Manchester. Karl is a specialist in smart asset management and was most recently with the architectural and planning consultancy, Enable By Design. Chris Jeffers, Head of FM Consultancy and Partner at RLB, said: “I am delighted to welcome Rachel and Karl to RLB. Their combined knowledge and experience of digital construction and data services across the sectors will bring an extra dimension to our growing team. “Rachel and Karl are joining RLB at a very exciting time. Over the last twelve months we have continued to invest in our FM Consultancy service offering to provide the best solutions to clients. Earlier this year we were also joined by public sector specialist, Indu Wijayatunga, and the team has grown the service line significantly, particularly within the Healthcare, Defence and Education sectors.” Rachel has previously worked for a number of FM organisations including Mace Macro, GB Partnerships, EC Harris LLP and IBM Global Business Services. She has been a Fellow of the RICS since 2013. Karl has been a Fellow of the Leeds Sustainability Institute since 2013 and is a member of BIM4HEALTH. In addition to his consultancy positions he has held a number of senior roles within the Leeds Sustainability Institute, Anglo Irish Bank and HBoS.
Manchester based Nikal Group has welcomed Darren Jones, previously Managing Director of Himor Group and Director of Economic Development at Oldham Council, as Development Director. “We are delighted that Darren has joined us. He brings to the team 30 years’ of private and public sector experience in regeneration, development and management. He will provide strategic advice, help deliver complex brownfield projects where we work in partnership with landowners, Local Planning Authorities and community groups across the UK and help us focus on expanding the activities of our home builder brand, Hillcrest Homes,” said Nick Payne, Nikal co-founder and Managing Director. Darren Jones managed a number of public and private joint ventures, capital programmes, residential developments, asset, FM, marketing and sales functions, as part of his role within Oldham Council. He also implemented and delivered the Town’s strategic investment framework, its regeneration strategy and major placemaking projects, including the award winning Old Town Hall and The Independent Quarter. Moreover, Jones ran his own development company, called Reflect Developments, for five years and spent 18 successful years at Orbit Developments. Talking about his new role, Jones said: “I have known Nick for 35 years and greatly admired the achievements of the Nikal Group so was delighted when he asked me to come on board. I look forward to working closely with Nick and the Nikal and Hillcrest Homes teams to deliver some fantastic new projects.” The Nikal Group is a dynamic and progressive force within the property industry that specialises in both the imaginative redevelopment and regeneration of strategic sites across the UK, such as Masshouse in Birmingham and Altair in Altrincham. Within the group is leading luxury homebuilder Hillcrest Homes which recently expanded into the Ribble Valley with a development of 30 new homes in Hurst Green, near Whalley.