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Executive Report: Able apprentices Hirers continue to develop training schemes to ensure that our industry recruits appropriately qualified young people. EHN has regularly highlighted the need for our industry to ensure that young people choosing a career in hire can benefit from suitable training and development programmes. In May we reported on HAE’s (www.hae.org.uk) HireTrain initiative, devised in conjunction with the CITB and ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for construction, while an article in the June 2006 issue explained how Brandon Hire had established its Academy at a technical college in Wiltshire to help new entrants gain Advanced Apprenticeships (www.brandonapprenticeships.co.uk) covering mechanical and theoretical issues. Most recently, Speedy Hire has launched an apprentice scheme for potential equipment maintenance workers. As a trial initiative in the north of England, the hirer has joined forces with Askham Bryan College in York and ConstructionSkills to develop the scheme, which provides students with NVQs and Technical Certificates in Plant Maintenance, leading to an advanced apprenticeship framework following a three-year course. A significant amount is reported to have been invested in the scheme by all three parties, including £25,000 from Speedy in a fully functional replica workshop at the College. The first 16 entrants were chosen from 150 applicants and all are guaranteed jobs within the Speedy Hire network when they have completed their qualifications. Comprehensive scheme Steve Palmer, UK Workshop Director at Speedy and his team are responsible for implementing the scheme. He states “We have worked closely with ConstructionSkills and the College to develop a comprehensive scheme for our apprentices. Each month, the students travel to York for a week of studying and then spend the rest of the month at one of our workshops, at their nearest depot, to apply on the job what they have learned.” After two years, students will gain an NVQ Level 2 in Plant & Maintenance. If they choose to attend for an optional third year, they earn an NVQ Level 3, equivalent to two A-Levels. The students will become qualified Speedy engineers responsible for repairing and maintaining a range of hire equipment, including electric, diesel and air powered products. “The grant from ConstructionSkills means that our students do not have to incur any costs for the qualification,” adds Steve Palmer. “It covers their expenses, travel and accommodation in York. All students took part in a rigorous application process, which included exams and interviews to secure a place on the scheme (www.speedyapprentices.co.uk). Due to the high demand from the first wave of applications, we are already offering an additional 20 places to potential students in the north. In the next 12 months we plan to roll out the scheme across the entire Speedy Hire business.” A-Plant’s four-year programme Last month, 30 more young people joined the latest round of A-Plant’s (www.aplantapprentices.com) existing Apprenticeship Scheme. During the four-year programme, apprentices combine block-release courses, now being held solely at Reaseheath College in Nantwich, with practical on-the-job training. They will also work towards gaining an NVQ Level 3. A-Plant currently offers three different programmes, which are aimed at apprentice fitters, design engineers and apprentice drivers respectively. Apprentice fitters are based at an A-Plant depot to learn how equipment is serviced, maintained and repaired. The apprentice design engineers scheme is centred in the A-Plant Drawing Office in Birmingham and involves producing high-quality CAD drawings for formwork and other design applications handled by the hirer. The apprentice drivers scheme is operated at branches in Kendal, Stockton-on-Tees, Hull and York, and offers the opportunity to gain a range of vehicle driving qualifications and licences. Another hirer that appreciates the benefits of providing good training is The Platform Company (www.platformcompany.co.uk), an access equipment hirer with 11 branches in England and Scotland. The company’s Apprentice Engineer Steve Vickary has achieved two first places and a runner-up position in the recent Apprentice Awards at the National Construction College in Norfolk. Steve is halfway through his three-year apprentice programme, which includes training from the company and the College. “I spend six weeks at the College studying for my NVQ Advanced Level 3 in Plant Mechanics, and the next six working at The Platform Company’s Bristol branch,” he states. “This works really well, as I am able to put what I learn into practical use and then, at the end of the course, I am straight into the job I have always wanted to do.” His two first places were attained in the Key Skills and the Personal Effort in Plant Mechanics Awards categories, while his runner-up position was gained in the Good Effort in Key Skills section. Andy Gilbert, National Operations Manager of The Platform Company, states “With our apprenticeship scheme we can be sure that we will gain an already competent team member, which is an important investment for the future of both the company and employee.” • Executive Hire News › Archives › October 2007 › Executive Report › Able apprentices
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