Diary of a training officer 2011 by Denise Cherry
I must have the best job in the world
On a day to day basis my role as training officer includes visiting companies to help them improve their businesses through training and sometimes its really hard, sometimes people just don’t have the time, money or inclination to train. Other times, such as the last few months, its a really great job, the group has been able to source funding to deliver courses that offer affordable training on issues of real interest to member companies
This report looks specifically at a few of the businesses I have worked with recently and offers examples of Best Practice in Developing New Markets, Surviving the Downturn, and Business Longevity including details of how these businesses make training an integral a part of their operations. .
This is, by no means, an exhaustive list of the work carried out by a Training Officer, but it covers some of the highlights.
15 September 2011 Regional Roof Training Group Meeting YIRTG hosted the bi-annual meeting of the Regional Roof Training Groups in Leeds. Its always good to meet and share ideas and experiences with other groups and this meeting saw the election of Brian Middlemiss as Chair and I was elected Vice Chair of the group for the next two years. Following the meeting members went on to Skillbuild at Leeds College of Building
15 September 2011 - Skillbuild
Yorkshire Lad takes Joint First Place in the Roof Slating and Tiling Category Leeds College of Building was represented by Kevin Barker, who I photographed whilst he worked on his prize winning rig. Kevin's work was excellent, I watched as he pointed the verge, and was really impressed by the care he took with his work. It's a real credit to the College and to the YIRTG member company, Dodds Roofing Ltd, that Kevin has been encouraged to develop his skills to this level Third-year apprentice Kevin (who also represented the College at Skillbuild in 2010) is following in the footsteps of his older brother Josh, who won the silver medal at SkillBuild in 2008.
22 September 2011 – Dying to Work I attended CSkills offices in Morley, where the National Construction College delivered an overview of their Occupational Health Modules in Lifestyle; Noise; Vibration; Take a deep breath – Respiratory; Protecting the largest organ – Skin & Musculoskeletal disorders. I was very impressed by the interactive nature of these courses and would highly recommend them, please contact me for more information
27 September 2011 – Additional Funding from CITB ConstructionSkills CSkills will make up to £10,000 available to training groups to offer FREE training to group members. YIRTG committee members decided that this funding should assist companies with some of the essential courses that are difficult to find funding support for including Manual Handling, Abrasive Wheels, Safe Working on Roofs, Tower Scaffold and access system.
29 September 2011 – UKATA Asbestos Awareness To assist members with this essential training, the group has decided to work with an associate training provider to deliver courses on a regular monthly basis at a cost of just £20 per delegate. This offer is initially for a trail period of 3 months and requires courses to be fully booked to ensure viability and continuation past the new year, so please consider this course, (delivered in Wakefield) for your regular Asbestos Awareness Training.
30 September 2011 –Commitment to Training This is a big “shout out” for Westwood Roofing Ltd of Morley, who are continuing to invest in training, despite having suffered substantial losses due to the insolvency of 3 major clients . Westwood arranged a training session today for all their staff on Asbestos Awareness and Abrasive Wheels – both booked and paid for before I learnt of the free training opportunities. Director Simon Foster says “training is important, and I want our teams to maintain the highest skill levels and qualifications, I think this is a prime reason we have kept our business going through these difficult times”
Apprentice Overload I am really pleased to report that this year's Roof Slating & Tiling cohort at Leeds College of Building is full with 18 candidates, and there are 7 students on the waiting list. Member companies are showing commitment to training their workers, with Ashtree Roofing of Wakefield sending 3 learners.
3 October 2011 – Jarvis & Womack I like to get a feel for how a business works so I can advise effectively on training initiatives and when I visited Jarvis & Womack recently I asked Mark how long the business had been going, “1870” he said. “surely you mean 1970?” I said.. but no it was indeed true, established more than 140 years ago! Obviously my next question was about how the business had managed this quite exceptional feat. Mark attributed this continuity of work to personal care on every contract, his management team and the quality of workmanship offered by his teams, one family has worked for the business through at least three generations, where they can trace continuous employment with Jarvis & Womack since 1952.
Perhaps one of the key elements of the sustainability of this business is its ability to adapt and work across a number of markets, from high quality heritage work to the emerging Solar Market and Jarvis & Womack have already fit 100s of panels.
The company have a policy of getting things right first time and training staff through the traditional apprenticeship route. Mark believes in treating his teams fairly and operates a bonus scheme, and is proud of the fact that he has managed through the recession so far without wage reductions. I believe (as you might expect) that a company’s success is built on training and their attitude towards it and Jarvis & Womack are a sound training company. At their new offices at Brookfields Way Manvers, they are hosting one the Group’s SSSTC Training Courses for their own staff and other roofing companies in the surrounding area.
5 & 6 October 2011 – A Roofer’s Guide to Sustainability
These were the first two courses run under this project, delivered in Doncaster & Boroughbridge to offer coverage throughout the region. Delivered by John Middleton of the National Construction College these sessions were very well received by delegates who booked a whopping 64 days further training through the Sustainability Project and NFRC Projects, plus some additional free training. Its a real benefit to meet company decision makers face to face to explain the range of courses and offers available to them.
11 October 2011 – Competence in Solar Installation - Project Changes At the Sustainability Course I learnt from John Middleton of the proposed requirements for installation of solar panels contained in PAS3030, a BSI consultation document. This recommends that to show competence to install collectors under the Green Deal operatives should hold two NVQ Units – QCF298 - Installing Solar Collectors to Roofs in the Workplace and QCF 281 Installing Components for Warm Roof Construction in the Workplace So I immediately called Leeds College of Building to discuss changes to the Competence in Solar Installation project to incorporate the unit on Warm Roofs which was not included in original proposals. Following project redrafting by the college and special consideration of the amendments by the Skills Enhancement Fund, the college are now offering on-site assessment of these units at a cost of £250 per candidate (available to candidates already qualified to NVQ Level 2 or 3). I am delighted that I became aware of the draft guidelines in time to restructure this project, and for the amazing work of the college and the funder to effect changes for the benefit of our members.
13 October – IOR AGM I was lucky enough to be able to go to the Institute of Roofing Annual General Meeting in Birmingham. Presentations were interesting and I had a good opportunity to talk to Executive Officer Roger White, and Chairman Martin Adwick of Batley Roofing Ltd. We have since arranged a Joint Meeting of the training group and the IOR on Tuesday 6 December under the title “Looking forward to 2012”.
14 October – Major Solar Gains A visit to an active training group member is always a pleasure, and Dodds Roofing Ltd, or rather Dodds Solar is an outstanding example of a company who has not only embraced new technologies, but become a regional market leader. Graham Dodds does not do things by half, his apprentices are prize winners, his company has been MCS Accredited for over a year, and he was one of the first companies to sign on for the YIRTG/Leeds College of Building Solar Competence Programme to ensure his teams have the skills required to take the company on the next steps towards the Green Deal. Dodds Solar is currently installing in excess of 2500 panels per month equating to over 550kWp - producing enough electricity to power over 150 homes for a year and offsetting 284 tons of CO2. As a long standing group supporter, Graham has agreed to share his solar experiences with group members at the next Group/IOR meeting in December.
17 October – Solar Installation The first of the Solar Installation courses to run through the Sustainability Project. 8 delegates completed this course at PPL Training in York.
18 October - Green Roofs Coincidentally today I visited two companies both involved in installation of Green Roofs, Batley Roofing Ltd and Controlled Roofing & Cladding who worked on Harrogate International Conference Centre, where parts of the aluminium roof were covered with locally sources sedum and wild flowers. If you would like to know more about green roofs the NFRC have a current project delivering training on planting green roofs.
20 October - Leeds College of Building Awards This was a treat, the event featured Jarrod Best, Managing Director of GMI Construction who gave an inspirational speech, emphasising the benefits of commitment and hard work. I have asked for a copy of the speech to go on YIRTG website, it shows just how much you can achieve if you have confidence and take the opportunities offered. The other key highlight for me was the presentation of awards to so many young roofers.
25 October – Review of the ConstructionSkills Strategy – Breakfast Meeting 26 October – Solar Focus Group and meeting with IOR - London 27 October – ConstructionSkills Regional Consultation 28 October – Solar Surveying
This is the first of two surveying courses held through the Sustainability Project running at the offices of Stroma in Castleford. Stroma are also delivering Solar Installation Courses and Solar Opportunities course on behalf of the group and Stuart Oakes of Stroma will also speak at the YIRTG/IOR meeting on 6th December.
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