Addressing the Skills Shortage.
Day 1 of the practical sessions in the PCA Training Facility

Addressing the Skills Shortage.

Addressing the skills shortage

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This week we welcomed cohort 8 of the PCA Specialist Apprenticeship to our facility in Huntingdon. None of the apprentices had ever carried out significant masonry repairs in the past. They were set a task of removing defective masonry and rebuilding to a high standard. Considering that this is their first attempt I am sure that you will agree that it was an excellent effort by the apprentices. Before going into the practical area the apprentices had spent 2 days in the classroom where we covered all aspects of Health and Safety relating to their work activities as well as diverting into specific technical elements of their day to day work.

The major benefit to these apprentices is that they will not only be able to carry out the tasks presented before them they will actually understand why they are doing what they are doing. There is a huge difference between doing the job and understanding the reason for it. As well as learning how to carry out masonry repairs they are taught what bricks are made of, what can affect their choice of brick, why it is vital that the correct choice of mortar is selected etc so they fully understand the implications of the work being carried out.

I provided feedback to one of the employers last night on how their apprentices had performed and Andy Hepple of Hepple Property Care Ltd informed me that the apprentices had been calling him at the end of each day to inform him what they had learned that day and in Andy's words they were on a high and were thoroughly enjoying the course. In the words of the apprentices, 'The course was nothing like they expected and far exceeded their expectations and they can not wait to come back for the next session'. Big respect to both 'Hepple Property Care Ltd' and 'Timberwise' for trusting us with their apprentices, we will not let you down and will ensure that at the end of the apprenticeship we will hand you back highly trained and technically proficient technicians who will repay your support and investment for many years to come.

I have said it many times, the technicians that you have dreamt of are out there and more often than not are already employed by you, provide them with the right support and invest in first-class training and you will reap the benefits. Give them the wings and watch them fly.

Diane P.

Operations Manager

3 年

So many skills shortages that investment required. Generations have changed but skills required in so many areas that need highlighted and addressed. Sue Wharton i know you would also agree on this.

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Pete Cole

Building Safety Officer. Chartered Building Engineer. Building Surveyor. Chartered Builder. Chartered S&H Professional. Clerk of Works. Expert Witness.

4 年

Excellent article Neil!

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Stephan Delarue

Application Engineer WEBAC Chemie GmbH

4 年

Neil Marsden great to see that the “offspring “ is well educated ??

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A J.

Former Senior Consultant (Building Inspector/Surveyor) with BLP 1992 to Nov 2019

4 年

Great to hear, apprentices are needed in so many areas and the people who join them are building on their own futures and hopefully finding self respect while doing it. Not everyone is suited to more formal training though some apprentices may find through this experience that in fact they are. In my last job we had a very smart new employee who had come up through the trades then crossed into a formal surveying course prior to going us. He proved to be well rounded by his experiences and seems to be doing very well when we last spoke. There isn't one route to being useful and contented, if an apprenticeship in one field doesn't suit perhaps another will. With working lives of some 45 years one needs to find work which you are confident in and comfortable doing.

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