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Executive Report: Academic achievement A new initiative from Brandon Hire has been established to train young people for a career in the industry. The Brandon Academy aims to give young people a thorough insight into all aspects of the tool hire industry. An initial pilot programme with 26 eager Brandon recruits is currently under way, and the scheme will be formally launched this September. Located at Wiltshire College’s Lackham Campus, just 25 miles away from Brandon’s Bristol head office, the initiative will see 50 young people a year being enrolled, aged between 16-19 and drawn from across the hirer’s network of approximately 150 depots. Students will attend the College for up to 14 weeks a year, for three years. Mechanical and theoretical issues will be studied, together with management and operational disciplines. Successful candidates will attain an Advanced Apprenticeship, which consists of NVQ Levels II and III and Key Skill Level I and II qualifications, as well as Technical Certificates. The Scheme attracts grant-aid through CITB-ConstructionSkills, enabling Brandon, one of the many hirers deemed to be ‘within scope’ of the CITB’s Training Levy, to derive a tangible benefit from it. “The scheme is a perfect vehicle to ensure our workforce is qualified to deal with the extensive range of equipment that we supply,” contends Brandon’s National Training and Development Manager, Jim Maccall. “The goal is to achieve a 98% retention level amongst those who enrol with the Academy, and we are aiming for 1 in 3 of our depots to have apprentices on the programme every year. Already the response has been enthusiastic.” Jim Maccall joined Brandon last September, having previously been National Plant Training Advisor with the CITB itself. He regards the Academy as “an excellent example of putting theory into practice. The key is the flexibility of our programme. After two years, students can diversify into particular areas of interest, having gained a general understanding of the industry, how it operates and the equipment it provides. This means we can meet the needs of all kinds of staff, from buyers and sales reps, to workshop technicians and hire desk personnel, with each understanding the role of others in the team. This differentiates our Academy from a conventional apprenticeship.” A large number of manufacturers and suppliers are assisting the Academy, by providing equipment, technical information and literature to enable students to have hands-on experience of typical fleet items. These companies currently include Briggs & Stratton, Belle, Demon, the Hire Supply Company, Hilti, Milwaukee, Niftylift, SPE, Topcon and Wacker. A mini excavator supplier will be added shortly. “We believe that the starting wage for each new student is attractive, and as he or she successfully completes each part of the programme, the rate will increase. This will also apply to other key achievements such as passing a driving test,” states Jim Maccall. “We believe we will attract good people into the industry, and they will be a real asset to us. We also hope that we will encourage more women to become involved. Those we already employ do a great job for us, whether running a depot or liaising with customers, but some lack the confidence to pursue a hire career. We hope the Academy will help rectify this. “To many young people, the hire industry is rather ‘invisible’. Most of them know about the construction industry and are aware of plant and machinery, but the role of hire and its importance is all too easily overlooked. We all know of excellent hire people who started as a van driver and ended up owning companies with several depots, but obtaining key staff is too important to be left to chance. The Brandon Academy will set enthusiastic young people on a career path for life.” • T
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554 Executive Hire News › Archives › June 2006 › Executive Report › Academic achievement
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