The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has welcomed the highest number of women to join its latest cohort of apprentices – following a successful East Midlands pilot programme. Of the 71 apprentices joining its latest quarterly intake at its national training centre in Darlington, six are female with a further
Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, proudly announces its achievement at the ‘FIS Training Awards’, taking home the accolade for the ‘FIS Member Training Programme’ category, after receiving commendation for its one-of-a-kind installation school. The Zentia Installation School has been recognised as an industry benchmark and forms
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission
Prestwick North Educational Campus has come first place in the ‘Pupil/Student Experience’ category at the prestigious Learning Places Scotland Awards 2023. The South Ayrshire Council campus was up against tough opposition for the award with the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh universities also in the running. The judging panel was
Guildford-based housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties is helping to tackle the construction industry skills shortage, having recently recruited its latest graduate trainee. Chloe Lopez (age 22), a Business Management graduate from the University of Surrey, was accepted onto Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties’ ASPIRE Programme this Autumn, based at
The West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges has appointed Nikki Davis, CEO and Principal of Leeds College of Building, as its new Chair. In 2022, Nikki was appointed the first ever female CEO and Principal in Leeds College of Building’s 60-year history. Nikki, who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects has given 16 Design, Surveying and Planning T-Level students from Walsall College hands on experience at three sites as part of the Winvic Enrichment Programme. Over
A Wakefield based joinery firm’s team is feeling chipper, after scooping an award for its commitment to skills, training and local employment. Joinery Direct, established in 2005, has been awarded sub-contractor of the quarter, by Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) for the work at the Pennine Village development, which has been
The North London Heat and Power Project (NLHPP), a £1.5 billion nationally significant infrastructure project under construction in Edmonton commissioned by North London Waste Authority (NLWA), has been named the Most Innovative Project of the Year at the Institute of Economic Development (IED) Annual Awards 2023. The awards, which were
Kier recently hosted an exclusive preview of ‘Open Doors 2024’, a Build UK initiative which takes young people and those looking for a change of career behind the site hoardings to experience construction first-hand. A group of students from Fulham Cross Academy were given an exclusive insight into what a
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has welcomed the highest number of women to join its latest cohort of apprentices – following a successful East Midlands pilot programme. Of the 71 apprentices joining its latest quarterly intake at its national training centre in Darlington, six are female with a further two women already having inducted earlier this year – compared with just one during the whole of 2022. Four were recruited as a result of TICA’s pilot initiative in Nottingham, which was designed to encourage more women to consider a career within the male-dominated industry. The national training provider attended several career fairs and colleges across the city and staged two recruitment days to raise awareness of the available opportunities and to match applicants with local employers. The female apprentices range in age from 16 to 50 and are from a variety of backgrounds and careers, including a special educational needs teacher, shop worker, and school leaver. In all, 12 female candidates attended the two recruitment days, and it is hoped the remainder may apply at a later date. The remaining four female apprentices at TICA were directly recruited by employers Altrad UK and Powertherm Contract Services. Marion Marsland, chief executive of TICA, said: “Prior to 2023, we welcomed on average just one female apprentice every three years. While the numbers may still be low, it represents a significant leap forward. It’s also encouraging to see that employers also recognise the benefits of having a more diverse workforce. “Women haven’t always seen construction as a career option due to a perception that it involves heavy manual work. This isn’t the case and TICA will continue to encourage and inspire more women to break down those invisible barriers that have prevented them from gaining well-qualified and well-paid jobs.” The thermal insulation industry is currently facing a recruitment shortage caused by an ageing workforce nearing retirement and a reduction in numbers of EU workers. Helen Anderson, head of learning at TICA, added: “We are experiencing a big demand for apprentices to bridge the resulting skills shortage, a gap that we are starting to bridge. “TICA is working with its employers to help them recruit directly, offering tailored support with everything from attending careers fairs, linking up with colleges, and organising recruitment campaigns and interviews.” It has also provided its members with free magnetic van stickers which is aimed at female recruits that features a QR code that provide further information on a career in thermal insulation. TICA’s apprenticeships combines practical on-site experience with employers with developing skills and best practice at TICA’s national training centre as apprentices work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, proudly announces its achievement at the ‘FIS Training Awards’, taking home the accolade for the ‘FIS Member Training Programme’ category, after receiving commendation for its one-of-a-kind installation school. The Zentia Installation School has been recognised as an industry benchmark and forms the cornerstone of Zentia’s dedication to fostering expertise and innovation within the industry. Since its inception in the 90s, the Zentia Installation School has trained over 10,000 individuals in installing ceiling systems safely and securely. The Installation School not only provides insightful training for external contractors, but it also forms a key part of the training programme for every Zentia employee. New starters complete the course to gain a deeper understanding of Zentia’s products and the interiors industry and can book refresher courses throughout their Zentia career as new products and techniques become available. Graham Taylor, Sales & Marketing Director at Zentia celebrated the win, saying: “At Zentia we firmly believe that persistent learning and development is crucial to building a strong foundation for our industry to continue growing and collaborating. We are proud of the knowledge we have been able to share as a result of our Installation School, and even more pleased that it has been recognised by the FIS in their Training Awards.” To find out more about Zentia click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission and service air source heat pumps. It will also provide a showpiece learning environment for students at the college, supporting a broader focus on green skills and energy. As an Employer Partner, Ideal Heating has equipped the facility with a range of its market-leading products, including its Logic Air heat pump and hot water cylinder, helping installers gain experience and confidence at working with these heating solutions. It forms part of commitment from Ideal Heating to support installers in the transition to low carbon heating solutions, such as heat pumps, as well as to help to attract young people into the industry. Lewis Litherland, a Renewable Energy Lecturer at St Helens College, worked as an engineer for British Gas before making the switch into education. He said: “I’m very passionate about creating a centre like this in St Helens, as I’ve come from a similar economic background to many of our students, and I’ve been fortunate to have fallen into an industry that has provided me with great opportunities. “So, if I can play a part in providing this for more young people in a similar position, it would be a great personal achievement for me.” The Green Energy Skills Centre has been launched to meet a growing demand for skilled and qualified workers for renewable energy industries to support the drive to a net zero economy. Decarbonising homes is crucial to meet the UK Government’s 2050 net zero target but, despite this, there remains a major shortage of skilled low carbon heating engineers. Working with partners such as St Helens College, Ideal Heating is helping re-train thousands of installers to fit and maintain heat pumps. Andrew Johnson, Training Director for Ideal Heating’s parent company Groupe Atlantic, said: “To tackle the skills gap which exists in the heating industry effectively, we need a two-pronged approach. “The way we heat our homes is changing and it’s so important that existing installers learn the skills required to work with heat pumps and other low carbon solutions. “We also need to focus on attracting more young talent into the industry. They are our installers of the future and, without them, we simply won’t succeed in this low carbon transition.” The Green Energy Skills Centre is now up and running, offering a range of BPEC-accredited training courses for heat pumps. Ideal Heating’s own Expert Academy training arm is re-skilling thousands of installers to become low carbon engineers. Ideal Heating opened its National Training and Technology Centre in East Yorkshire earlier this year, as the centrepiece of the company’s UK-wide training operations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Prestwick North Educational Campus has come first place in the ‘Pupil/Student Experience’ category at the prestigious Learning Places Scotland Awards 2023. The South Ayrshire Council campus was up against tough opposition for the award with the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh universities also in the running. The judging panel was impressed with the agile nature of the learning spaces at the campus which support group, peer to peer and individual learning. The judges also appreciated the use of natural daylight throughout the campus which promotes a healthy learning environment. Councillor Stephen Ferry, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education said: “This is a great achievement. We want our young people to have the best possible experience in our schools, as it’s a huge contributing factor when it comes to life beyond the classroom. I am sure the young people and staff will continue to enjoy their campus for many years to come.” Councillor Martin Kilbride, Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment said: “This award is such an important accolade and highlights all the work undertaken at the design stage to ensure the entire campus was full of inspirational and interactive learning spaces. I would like to thank everyone involved, particularly our Special Property Projects Team who delivered the project. Gaynor Hartley, Head Teacher of Glenburn Primary, Jacqueline McPeake, Head Teacher of St Ninian’s and Susan Cole, Manager of Prestwick North Early Years Centre commented: “We’re delighted that the campus received the award for Pupil/Student Experience. We all agree that, as leaders of schools and an EYC, this is the best award for our campus to receive as everyone involved is trying to deliver the best possible education for our young learners! Michael Ross, Chief Executive of public sector development partner hub South West Scotland said: ” Winning such a prestigious award showcases the quality of projects hub South West Scotland, our design teams and construction partners are delivering in partnership with the team at South Ayrshire Council. Feedback from pupils and staff highlights the huge benefits they have already experienced from learning and interacting in this superb new community campus. This award recognises not only the hard work of the collective team that delivered this project but also South Ayrshire Council’s vision to invest in their learning estate.” Morgan Sindall Construction’s managing director for Scotland, Stuart Parker, said: “It’s been an honour to work with both South Ayrshire Council and hub South West on delivering the Prestwick North Education Campus, who shared our vision in creating a modern, engaging state-of-the-art learning facility for the local community. Winning the Pupil/Student Experience Award is a real testament to all the work that’s gone into every element of the project, and I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone involved. We hope it’ll be a real game changer for the community and future generations to come.” Lindsey Mitchell, Architect Director at BDP said: “It’s a remarkable achievement and a true testament to our team’s commitment to ensuring high quality, innovation and collaboration in all our projects. My congratulations go out to all those involved, and I thank our entire team and our partners for all their hard work and dedication in striving to improve the learning experience for thousands of young people across Scotland.” The Learning Places Scotland Awards provide recognition of excellence in the design of educational buildings. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Guildford-based housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties is helping to tackle the construction industry skills shortage, having recently recruited its latest graduate trainee. Chloe Lopez (age 22), a Business Management graduate from the University of Surrey, was accepted onto Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties’ ASPIRE Programme this Autumn, based at its head office on Old Portsmouth Road. The two-year scheme provides hands-on career education and training, and will see Chloe deployed within each department of the business to learn first-hand about Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties’ operations. Chloe will then undertake a final placement within the Commercial department, where she will train to become an Assistant Quantity Surveyor. During the programme, Chloe will meet regularly with other graduates from across the business and undertake entrepreneurial fundraising with the Princes Trust’s Million Makers challenge. Chloe comments: “It’s an exciting time to be entering the construction industry – the market is changing at a rapid pace and Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties offers an incredibly dynamic working environment. The ASPIRE Programme was the very first scheme that I applied to after my degree, and after a few short weeks I have already gained so much knowledge and experience. Alongside my placements, I am also being mentored by the Managing Director, which has given me valuable insight and training to take forward in the role.” Chloe’s time is split between the office and working onsite at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties’ developments in Berkshire and Sussex, where she is currently shadowing the surveying team. “You have the opportunity to get stuck in from day one!” Chloe adds. “It’s hard work but when you’re on the job you can see the real-life impact of the work that we’re doing. Each day brings a new challenge, and I’m learning everything from procurement to budget valuations to overseeing the contractors. Each day is different and varied and there’s no better way to learn.” Chloe recently supported with the launch of David Wilson Homes’ newest development in Finchampstead, Finchwood Park, and worked closely on the creation of the customer sales arena. “Seeing the final product brought to life demonstrates how each person plays a vital role in constructing new homes and ensuring its success,” Chloe adds. Julian Hodder, Managing Director at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties, adds: “What is fundamentally clear is the fact that the construction skills shortage reaches far beyond traditional trade careers such as carpentry and bricklaying. There is an impetus now for us to invest and train across all roles, and the ASPIRE graduate programme is just one way that we are attracting some of the best talent from the next generation. Chloe’s drive, dedication and work ethic has impressed her colleagues, and she has a very bright future ahead in construction.” Chloe is hoping to continue her career with Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties after completing the Aspire Programme, with ambitions to progress to a manager within the next five years. Chloe and the team at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties are helping to create new homes across the South East, including at The Poppies in Aylesford, Brookwood Meadows in Westham and Finchwood Park in Finchampstead. For further details about Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties or the ASPIRE Programme, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk / www.dwh.co.uk or call 0333 355 8498. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges has appointed Nikki Davis, CEO and Principal of Leeds College of Building, as its new Chair. In 2022, Nikki was appointed the first ever female CEO and Principal in Leeds College of Building’s 60-year history. Nikki, who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, is committed to leading this unique collaboration of colleges to transform lives through learning, and strive for continuous improvement for FE in West Yorkshire. Under Nikki’s leadership, Leeds College of Building is focused on diversity, inclusivity, and access for all to the opportunities offered by the construction sector. The College is also engaged in green and sustainable skills training to help contribute to critical national net-zero targets. Nikki will chair the consortium which consists of the seven principals of the FE Colleges in West Yorkshire. The board meets regularly to agree collaborative opportunities that will increase the skills of the people and businesses of the region. The consortium strives to build capacity, increase accessibility and drive up the quality of learning in West Yorkshire’s colleges and partner organisations. As Chair, Nikki will work closely with the principals and WYCC Director, Joanne Patrickson to influence and support the skills agenda in the region, and work with key partners such as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, chambers of commerce and other partners working to meet the skills needs. Nikki Davis, CEO and Principal of Leeds College of Building, said,“I am delighted to take up the role of West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges Chair. This is an exciting time for WYCC, and I look forward to supporting its important work with education providers and businesses to boost crucial skill levels across the region. “Collaborating on WYCC projects is essential to tackle regional skills gaps and contribute to economic growth. As Chair, I hope to support even more initiatives promoting training in digital technologies and green skills alongside furthering social mobility and diversity across our regional workforce.” Joanne Patrickson, Project Director for WYCC said,“We are really pleased that Nikki is chairing the consortium. Nikki brings so much to the role and has a great insight into FE and the regional skills agenda, we will value and welcome her support.” Under the collaboration of the consortium, the colleges have just secured nearly £7million in funding from the Department for Education, the Local Skills Improvement Fund. This funding will be managed by the WYCC across the seven college partners to digitise teaching and learning across a number of key sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects has given 16 Design, Surveying and Planning T-Level students from Walsall College hands on experience at three sites as part of the Winvic Enrichment Programme. Over a three-week period, the students spent a total of six days across three projects. Kent St Baths is a 406 apartment build-to-rent scheme in the centre of Birmingham being delivered for Edmond De Rothchild and Stoford’s Redditch Gateway is an industrial project where two facilities are being constructed. West Midlands Interchange is a 734-acre site where civils and infrastructure works have recently commenced for Oxford Properties Group and Logistics Capital Partners. The six days of on-site education not only upskilled and improved the confidence of students in further education, but it also contributes to the three projects’ social value commitments and Walsall College’s 35-hour enrichment activity aims. In total the sessions have provided 465 enrichment activity hours. Sessions in the Winvic Enrichment Programme have been designed to showcase several elements of a construction project, but they can also be tailored to meet the needs of each cohort and their course subject. Sessions enjoyed by Walsall College students included digital engineering, earthworks, planning, quantity surveying, CV writing, mental health and fairness, inclusion and respect (FIR); they were given activities to complete, site tours, got hands on and up close with various construction processes and were encouraged to ask questions at any time. The feedback received from the students and tutors was outstanding and a number of students contacted Winvic after the programme to express their thanks. One said: “I enjoyed meeting the QS and doing the task he provided us. I also enjoyed seeing how tasks are done and how knowledgeable the site team are and how they treat the site with respect and care.” Another student emailed: “I feel like I have learnt a lot in the past 6 days we’ve had on the different sites. I liked being able to meet new people and get their advice and opinions on the different sectors of the industry. I’ve definitely taken in a lot of information from everyone there and I think the thing that will stick the most is how you can always work your way up in the industry as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort in.” “These 6 days gave me real experience and understanding of different processes in construction,” said another T-Level student. “Thank you to all the professionals who allocated time for us during their working day and showed us and told us about their tasks at construction sites, the work process, what difficulties they encountered, and what experience they had. It was very informative to listen to and ask each of the professionals questions.” The Programme has led to more engagement in the coming weeks including the provision of on-site block placements for four students; the new HTQ Level 4 in Construction Management for England students will also be visiting Crown Place Birmingham – Crown Student Living’s Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) project comprising 814 beds – for a bespoke one day site visit. Furthermore, Winvic collaborated with Walsall College over the summer to provide Continued Professional Development (CPD) training to two tutors, on site at IM Properties’ Peddimore industrial project, supporting them to gain knowledge about the very latest construction technologies, materials and methods of construction. Kayleigh Merritt, Winvic’s Talent Development Manager, commented: “This is the fourth time we have delivered an Enrichment Programme to students, and it has been wonderful to hear how much the students enjoyed each session and how the experience opened their eyes to different roles. Because we have a large number of projects in and around Birmingham, the students were able to visit projects in our three key sectors – multi-room, industrial and civils and infrastructure – and that was an added bonus to be able to show them even more than one site could offer. It’s no small task to organise a six-day programme so I’d like to thank our site teams and the numerous subcontract partners who contributed to providing this engaging learning experience.” Martin Lake, Lecturer in Advanced Construction at Walsall College, said: “We would like to thank Winvic’s talent and site teams for providing an excellent experience for our students and ourselves. A number of students have expressed that the induction placements provided an excellent insight into different sectors within the industry and have helped shape their future career choices.” For more details on the Winvic Enrichment Programme, please contact traning@winvic.co.uk. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Wakefield based joinery firm’s team is feeling chipper, after scooping an award for its commitment to skills, training and local employment. Joinery Direct, established in 2005, has been awarded sub-contractor of the quarter, by Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) for the work at the Pennine Village development, which has been built by delivery partner Keepmoat. SHC is Sheffield City Council’s joint venture development company with private developer and top 10 housebuilder Keepmoat and Great Places Housing. Established in 2011 it has an ambitious target of building 2,300 properties on a total of 23 sites by the end of 2026. Every three months, the council monitors the performance of SHC’s subcontractors – with a focus on the employment and training opportunities they provide. These could be work placements, apprenticeships, training and educational programmes and the number of jobs created. Joinery Direct has provided more than 15 training and employment opportunities for people in Sheffield. This includes the recruitment of apprentice Thomas Hewitt, 19, who has achieved an NVQ level 2 in carpentry and joinery and is now working towards his level 3 qualification. He said: “I’ve really enjoyed the experience and teaching I’ve received during the first years of my apprenticeship and look forward to continuing to work towards my level 3 qualification.” Joinery Direct has over 45 employees and works with a large variety of clients throughout Yorkshire, providing joinery services for new build, residential and social housing projects. The business prides itself on the quality of its work and in training the next generation of joiners to the very highest of standards. The award was presented to the business’ Joinery Supervisor, John Howarth, at SHC’s Eclipse development, by SHC Development Manager, Howard Young. He said: “This is a really rewarding part of my role, recognising businesses that support SHC’s objectives and help us to deliver our projects. As an organisation our ethos is about improving housing choice in the city, whilst also investing in the region by supporting local supply chains and businesses. This in turn creates opportunities for individuals like Thomas, to acquire new skills and employment.” Councillor Douglas Johnson, Chair of the Housing Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, added: “SHC thrives when working in partnership with great organisations and we’re pleased to add Joinery Direct to the list of subcontractor award winners – in recognition of their excellent performance. Well done to all involved.” SHC is committed to supporting organisations, communities and individuals within the city. To date, working with its partnering organisations, it has delivered 75 apprenticeships and contributed over £50,000 to local community groups, schools and good causes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The North London Heat and Power Project (NLHPP), a £1.5 billion nationally significant infrastructure project under construction in Edmonton commissioned by North London Waste Authority (NLWA), has been named the Most Innovative Project of the Year at the Institute of Economic Development (IED) Annual Awards 2023. The awards, which were hosted in Birmingham last week following the IED Annual Conference ‘Grow for Good? Reappraising the UK’s Growth Objectives’, recognise achievers in the public and private sector through a series of individual, team and organisational categories. The Most Innovative Project of the Year award is for innovative economic development projects which have pushed the boundaries beyond traditional approaches and delivered additional beneficial outcomes as a result of the innovation. The nomination for the Schools Engagement Programme, which is managed by NLWA contractor AECOM’s Economic Development team, detailed awareness-raising of the NLHPP and its offering with local schools throughout north London. With the aim to stimulate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, as well as construction, engineering and waste infrastructure related careers, sessions involve staff from across the project volunteering to run workshops and interactive forums for local students. The programme covers four main topics related to recycling, energy from waste, construction and career pathways, which are adapted to the needs of the students. Student site tours of the NLHPP and an onsite activity session are also offered. Since March 2021, the project team has run over 70 sessions at more than 50 local schools, engaging over 2,300 students. Over the course of the last year, the programme has expanded to primary schools and to those outside of mainstream education, including Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRU), with further expansion of the primary, SEN and youth group offering planned. NLHPP contractor ACCIONA has also developed a specific programme to encourage female students to consider a career in the industry, ‘She can Construct’, which showcases examples of women in a range of roles on the NLHPP and therefore the diversity of career paths. Commenting on the significance of the IED award, NLWA Chair Cllr Clyde Loakes said: “From the outset of NLHPP, one of our main priorities has been to ensure that the project creates new opportunities for young people. The fact that students who have attended our school sessions say they are more likely to pursue STEM subjects and careers after hearing from professionals working on NLHPP, is testament to the value of incorporating extensive social value into the framework of infrastructure projects. Thank you to the Institute of Economic Development for recognising our work with this prestigious award.” After the ceremony, AECOM’s Senior Economic Development Consultant Beth Parsons said: “We are honoured to win the Most Innovative Project of the Year award for our work on the NLHPP Schools Engagement Programme. This is a key part of our social value workstream which we are delivering on behalf of NLWA. The programme is inspiring students to consider STEM and construction careers, with involvement from over 140 professionals across the project at multiple organisations. I am very proud of our team for their efforts in continuing to deliver such a successful initiative.” Separately, Beth was shortlisted in the IED’s Social Value Champion of the Year award category, which recognises individuals who have championed and made a significant contribution to social value creation, developing best practice in their field and making positive impacts in their communities. IED Director Bev Hurley CBE, who hosted the IED’s 40th anniversary awards evening sponsored by Key Cities, said: “Many congratulations to NLHPP as the winner of our Most Innovative Project of the Year award. Our judges determined that the scale of activity in this project was high. It was described as future facing, collaborative in nature, with strong supporting feedback from young people involved.” IED Executive Director Nigel Wilcock added: “The awards dinner was a wonderful evening, following on from a highly successful conference in the day, and both were a fitting celebration of our 40th anniversary as a professional body. Congratulations to all our winners, those who our judging panel determined should be Highly Commended for their nomination, and indeed everyone who was shortlisted and took the opportunity to enter the awards. Thanks to Key Cities for sponsoring the awards evening, and our individual award sponsors for their support.” The IED is the UK’s leading independent professional body for economic development and regeneration practitioners, supporting them to create stronger communities and sustainable economies. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kier recently hosted an exclusive preview of ‘Open Doors 2024’, a Build UK initiative which takes young people and those looking for a change of career behind the site hoardings to experience construction first-hand. A group of students from Fulham Cross Academy were given an exclusive insight into what a career in construction might look like as they toured Kier’s Refinery development at ARC West London, in Hammersmith and put their questions to the team. Refinery is the landmark high spec lab development which will provide a new home for UK life science organisations. The Considerate Constructors Scheme-registered site located on the Northern Embankment of the River Thames will create flexible laboratories and will create job opportunities within science and research-based specialisms, together with many facilities including cycle facilities for 200 bicycles and a new communal park integrating with the Thames Path. Kier has partnered with Build UK to open up a number of construction sites for next year’s Open Doors event, which will run across the country from Monday 13 – Saturday 18 March 2024. A wide range of organisations will be taking part, offering site visits across the UK, with projects ranging from tunnels to skyscrapers, as well as offices, factories, and other facilities to demonstrate the off-site roles across the sector. At the event on 9 November, the students studying construction and DT at the STEM specialist school in Fulham heard from six apprentices currently on emerging talent programmes within Kier. Programmes include Level 2 – 3 apprenticeships, Degree apprenticeships and Graduate schemes. Lina Othman – graduate design manager, Morgan Ford – CSR graduate, Daniel O’Connor – apprentice quantity surveyor, Teopista Nakitende – construction management degree apprentice, Vinoth Krishnasamy, graduate site manager and Alexis Ezekiel-Hart – apprentice site manager, all talked through their career experiences, showcasing the vast variety of roles and skills needed to contribute to the successful delivery of construction projects. Louisa Finlay, Kier Group’s chief people officer said: “The construction industry is vital to the UK economy and provides so many different roles and opportunities for people from all walks of life. Open Doors is a great initiative and Kier is proud to partner with Build UK to showcase the different careers on offer. It was great to share my own experiences of working in the sector for 35 years and listen to students who attended today’s event about their career aspirations, some of whom are already starting their training on construction-related courses.” Julie White, Build UK chair and managing director of D-Drill (Master Drillers) Ltd added: “Having grown up visiting construction sites with my father, I know what a difference seeing our industry in action makes. Open Doors is a unique opportunity for young people and those looking for a change of career to go behind the scenes of sites and other workplaces up and down the country and see what a career in construction looks like. Sites like Kier’s Refinery are a great example of how a diverse and talented team of people come together to deliver something special, and I would encourage the whole construction supply chain to follow their lead and open their doors next March to inspire the next generation to choose a career in our fantastic industry!” During the week-long programme of events for Open Doors 2024, visitors will get a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the fantastic range of careers available in construction, including thousands of apprenticeship places. In addition to familiar site-based roles, many of the positions available are based externally, with companies able to showcase their back-office support network, front-of-house sales teams, and cutting-edge technical roles. Almost 100 events are already registered for visitors to explore throughout Open Doors Week and booking will open on the Open Doors website on 8 January 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
