YOUNG, TOUGH AND READY TO WORK!
Few organisations are as committed to training and apprenticeships as ATLAS, which prides itself in the quality of its members’ apprentices. ATLAS wants to draw people’s attention to the importance of employing apprentices and looks at their members’ views towards apprenticeship training. All ATLAS apprentices train at the National Construction College (NCC) at Bircham Newton where they study towards becoming fully qualified operatives, whilst simultaneously obtaining an NVQ qualification. The skills they learn at the College (30% theory, 70% practical) are then put in to practice with experienced operatives within their respective companies on site.
Although times have been tough and many companies have reduced the number of apprentices hired and trained at Bircham Newton, the NCC are adamant that the show must go on. Apprentices really are the future of the industry and they cannot be put aside.
The Lightning Protection Apprentice course lasts a total of two years, whilst the Specialist Access Course lasts three. Apprentices study for six weeks in the classroom at the College, followed by six weeks training on-site, giving them the necessary combination of both practical and technical skills.
David Gaughran, Acting Access Manager at the NCC said:
‘Times are tough, undeniably tough, but we’ve all been here before. Hiring apprentices is imperative if you want to maintain the flow of new skills into our industry. The companies that continue to hire now, are essentially planning for the future and will reap the benefits in the coming years.’
He believes that hiring apprentices comes with so many advantages. They help companies stay up to date with the latest industry techniques, for example the BS EN 62305 lightning protection standard that is now incorporated into the syllabus.
Having founded an industry training group, ATLAS is renowned for its support and hands on approach towards apprentices. The Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group (SLPTG) consistently monitors the apprentices’ progress whilst obtaining regular feedback from the apprentices themselves on their satisfaction with the course. Steve Pettit, Managing Director of Nimbus Lightning Protection and an active member of the Training Group stated:
‘Of all the companies bringing apprentices to the NCC, it is the ATLAS members and affiliated Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group who most fully understand the importance of apprentices for the future of our industry. We at the Training Group believe it is imperative for these apprentices to be thoroughly and professionally trained, so it is our duty to constantly monitor their progress.’
ATLAS member Delta International is a keen supporter of apprenticeship training and aims to employ 3 pupils each year. Eleanor Hill of Delta said:
‘In an industry which is dependent on the quality and skills of its operatives, apprenticeship training is a fundamental way to ensure a continual stream of qualified employees who are aware of health and safety issues, quality requirements, possible progression within the industry as well as the hands-on skills needed to undertake such work.’
Likewise, lightning protection specialist and ATLAS member BEST Services has seen the number of apprentices it employs increase in the last two years, as they have seen how this benefits a company and business has never been better. Colin Clinkard of BEST said:
‘One of the major benefits of employing an apprentice is that they do not come with any bad habits. The rigorous training at Bircham Newton provides us with enthusiastic young operatives who are extensively trained in all aspects of health & safety and tool usage. They are then ready to specialise in our in house onsite training programme.’
For these apprentices, the intensive NVQ course and training programme culminates in the prestigious and much deserved Apprenticeship awards where each apprentice receives their NVQ certificate and individual awards are given. BEST’s first apprentice is in his second year of the training course and is a keen hopeful for the upcoming Apprenticeship awards in December 2010, a testimony to the company and the onsite training they provide.
The most recent Apprenticeship awards, held in December 2009 proved a fantastic success with some promising operatives winning awards. Some of the successes of the evening were as follows: The overall Training Group Award for academic achievement was won by Jack Lomas from Omega Red Group, whilst he also won the Award for Best NVQ Portfolio. In the specialist access categories, Darren Grimley from Zenith won the Walter Bacon Award for highest marks for laddering whilst Steve Marshall from Delta won the Ted Fuller Award for the highest achiever over all disciplines.
In the lightning protection categories, Joe Hamblin from Omega Red Group won the Erico Award for the best in practical application; Harry Stevens from Omega Red Group again won the W J Furse Award for best in technical application while Phil Clarke of Thor Lightning Protection won the A W Elliott Award for highest achiever over all disciplines. These awards are a credit to ATLAS and how much they value their apprentices. A great time was had by all.
Although the recession has hit British industry hard, ATLAS believes this does not give companies an excuse to start cutting corners in apprentice hire and training. Although the media has predicted an equally hard 2010, now is really the time to protect the future of your business, as opposed to providing a short term cost saver. ATLAS’ continued support for their members’ apprentices plays a valuable part in their success year after year. It is now the responsibility of the rest of the construction industry to follow ATLAS’ lead.