In the second part of our series of videos from Milwaukee’s Heavy Duty Fest 2107 in Berlin, Sendi Spoljaric shows us the M18 FUEL SURGE ¼˝ Hex hydraulic driver, said to be the quietest cordless fastening solution on the market.
Features include:
– On board fuel gauge and LED light
– Flexible battery system: works with all Milwaukee® M18™ batteries
– FLUID-DRIVE™ hydraulic powertrain reduces metal on metal contact within the tool, delivering quieter operation, smoother performance and increased durability over a standard impact
– Delivers same performance in wood fastening as standard brushless impact drivers
– POWERSTATE™ brushless motor delivers up to 0 – 3000 RPM with constant power output to drive screws faster
– REDLINK PLUS™ intelligence system delivers the most advanced digital overload protection for tool and battery and uniquely enhances the tool performance under load
– The Milwaukee® DRIVE CONTROL™ allows the user to shift into four different speed and torque settings to maximise application versatility
– Self-tapping screw mode is designed to reduce walking when starting self-tapping screws as well as reduce overdriving, breaking and stripping out screws
– REDLITHIUM-ION™ battery pack delivers up to 2.5x more run time, up to 20% more power, up to 2x more battery life and operates better down to -20°C than other lithium-ion technologies
– Individual battery cell monitoring optimises tool run time and ensures long term pack durability
Mira Showers is supporting the nation’s young installer talent by sponsoring this year’s HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year competition.
The annual event, launched in 2009, represents an opportunity to recognise the hard work, ability and dedication of the next generation of installers.
The regional heats offered apprentices across the country the chance to participate in a series of challenges and practical tasks to test their skills, and pit themselves against other students at a national level. With the heats now concluded, the winners of each, plus the person who received the highest score overall from all, are going forward to a grand final to be held in Cheltenham at the end of March.
Mira has donated over 100 mixer showers to the competition for competitors to install as part of their practical tests
For its part, Mira has donated over 100 mixer showers to the competition for competitors to install as part of their practical tests; and is providing prizes to the regional finalists and the overall winner.
Mira Showers is no stranger to supporting apprenticeships, having relaunched its own in-house programme in September 2015. Mira’s scheme emulates and exceeds the high standard of training offered by the company in the 1960s, and is designed to guarantee its reputation for engineering excellence well into the future.
With more than 300 people having passed through the course over the years, the original scheme celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2011. Dozens of its alumni are still with the business, including Sarah Sadler, Finance Director; Director, Supply Chain Tim Birch and Wayne Walker, VP Manufacturing – Global Faucets.
In 2017, Mira is seeking to add five new apprentices to its complement – two in business administration, and three in engineering.
Skill Builder’s ‘Day in the life’ feature takes a look at a typical day in the life of different tradespeople. In this installment, we talk to the inspirational Kevin Skeith who, against all the odds, recovered from a serious motorcycle accident which threatened to leave him as a quadriplegic. He now runs a thriving flooring business and became Dickie’s UK Worker of the Year 2016.
Name: Kevin Skeith Trade: Domestic and commercial flooring supply and installation Company: Kevin Skeith Flooring
Kevin won a Honda Crosstourer 1200cc motorbike when he was crowned Dickies UK Worker of the Year
What time does your day start?
The alarm goes off at 6.30am. I get our children (Hayden 3 and Reuben 1) up, washed, fed, dressed and ready for nursery.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Easy. I love my job, I enjoy meeting new people, I like being on my knees in the trades, I enjoy seeing the transformation that new flooring makes and I get a great satisfaction from seeing the end result of a completed flooring install, whether it’s a small bathroom or large commercial premises.
My job is also the thing that provides for my family and I get a great buzz from showing my family the pictures of my work and knowing that my family also has pride in the work that I do.
What does a typical day entail for you?
I’m up and loading up the day’s work by 8am. Go to the store collect the day’s materials and tools, cut up any flooring required. Arrive with the first customer by 9am. I’ll fit carpets, vinyls, laminates, engineered and real wood, contract vinyls and luxury vinyl tile feature floors, I screed floors, ply floors, perform damp tests and damp proof floors too. My days are very varied and that’s all part of the joy of being a flooring fitter for me.
I might have up to six houses a day or I might be at one address all day long. I generally get home between 5pm and 6pm. If I can, I collect my children from nursery and walk home with them and I have Thursday afternoons with them too, but I work Saturday to make up for the lost time in the week. We eat tea as a family, I do the bedtime preparations and stories then after 7pm I’ll go out again and visit customers to do quotes and show them samples, often getting back in around 9pm. After 9pm I will email suppliers and order materials, type up quotes and deal with social media requests on facebook and twitter.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The customers and the job satisfaction; every day I see a room transformed and a customer who is happy and appreciates my work and the products I supply.
My customers are a vital part of my business; they champion my work in public, in the press and on social media and I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for their support.
What’s the worst thing about your job?
Having to challenge the sometimes negative perception of flooring fitters. Some say that anyone who can hold a knife can fit a carpet. To a degree that is true, the mechanics of fitting a carpet are not particularly hard but to be doing the job to a high standard, with a professional approach and covering a wide range of materials with great product knowledge takes dedication and commitment.
As a flooring fitter there is very very little room for error, and small mistakes can be very very costly so your concentration levels have to be high
Thankfully in recent years, I have seen a welcome change in the trade with the introduction of more professional qualifications and more fitters getting qualified and standards being raised.
What qualifications do you have?
I’m Grammar School educated with 9 GCSEs and a GNVQ in Construction & the Built Environment.
I started in flooring fitting before there were qualifications, you went with a fitter for two years who taught you the job and when he thought you were ready he told the boss, the boss went with you for a couple of weeks and if you met the standard they needed you were let loose with your knives among the general public.
Since then I have been on several flooring training courses. I am FITA (Flooring Industry Training Association) trained in resilient flooring and luxury vinyl tiles. I have been on several flooring industry supplier courses (adhesives and subfloor preparation) including Mapei, F Ball, Ardex, and Uzin.
I’m asbestos awareness and removal trained. Later this month I will be taking the Moduleo Moods advanced installer course and I’m also booked in for two further manufacturer installer courses for later in the year, one for laminate flooring and one for luxury vinyl tile installation.
I’m also currently doing my NVQ Level 2 in both hard flooring and my NVQ Level 2 in soft furnishings & carpets.
Measure twice, cut once – most serious errors in my job come about through mismeasurement, which result in miscalculating sizes and areas, which means either extra expense if there is wasted or excess material or stupid unnecessary delays if there isn’t enough
What tool couldn’t you live without?
There are two:
1. My phone. It’s my communication device, my calculator, my diary, my emails, my social media access and it’s my also my arch nemesis and the bain of my life.
2. My Stanley Tylon 8m tape measure. Measure twice, cut once – most serious errors in my job come about through mismeasurement, which result in miscalculating sizes and areas, which means either extra expense, if there is wasted or excess materia, or stupid unnecessary delays if there isn’t enough. I prfer tylon tape measures because in my experience metal ones twist and get bent too easily, then they either go brittle and snap or won’t retract correctly. I also find that the tylon ones don’t flick about as much when measuring down stair cases and the edges aren’t as sharp as metal tapes, so they don’t cut you by mistake.
What do you drive?
A high roof long wheel base Ford Transit, 200bhp and fully loaded with all the extra’s. I spend a massive amount of time in my van, if it doesn’t work I don’t work. I over-service it and treat it like a princess.
What do you do to unwind?
I love spending time with my wife Anna and children and our two dogs Missy and Sweep.
I now also ride a motorbike again, I’ve been a fan of motorbikes and motorbike racing since I was young. I broke my spine in 2010 in a horrific motorcycle accident and was told to expect to be a quadriplegic for the rest of my life. Thankfully the amazing doctors and specialists at Queens medical centre in Nottingham saved my spine and gave me my life back. The accident was a turning point in my life and a catalyst to get me to where I am today.
Since recovering from the spinal injury, I have got married and had two beautiful children, I have worked tirelessly to get us out of the financial debt the accident caused, to build myself back up and to get back to work, and to build up my reputation and customer base.
The accident was also a significant part of my story and it explains where I came from, went through and why I went on to win the Dickies UK worker of the year in 2016.
What advice would you give an up and coming apprentice.
1. Take the grief the ‘old boys give you’, it’s meant in jest and if they are having a laugh with you, it’s because they like you. The other reason they will give you grief is because they can see your potential, we know if you are a natural with a knife, and if you are we want you to be the very best you can be, we aren’t going to get off your back until we have seen that you have got to where you deserve to be.
2. Train hard, work hard and make the customer the focus of your work. Customers are the people you need to please, if the customer is happy, your boss is happy and in turn you’ll be happy.
3. When you do think you’ve qualified and you ‘know’ it all, think again, there is always something new to learn, a new approach to try and a new skill to gain and a new product to learn about that you haven’t heard of.
4. Never sell yourself short. If some one calls you it is because they want you to use your skills for them. Never forget that.
and finally
5. Be kind…. you never know what is going to happen, so you never know when you might need a favour back.
I was visiting a manufacturer of safety equipment recently and went to use the gents and found the place flooded out. There was one guy with a mop trying to clear it up but he was like the Sorcerer’s apprentice, the loo just kept overflowing. As fast as he cleared it up more appeared. Even though I was dressed in my smart(ish) clothes and had no tools with me I managed to stop the overflowing loo and, more importantly clear the blockage with a mop wrapped in a polythene sack to act as a plunger. They offered to pay me but I refused, preferring to bask in the glory of being their knight in shining armour.
They offered to pay me but I refused, preferring to bask in the glory of being their knight in shining armour.
This is a feeling that every plumber knows and, for me, it helps to have some motivation that goes beyond money, but it is a bit of a drug and if I am not careful I find it creeps into other areas of my life. If for example I am walking down the street with my wife en- route to a nice restaurant and I see somebody with their car bonnet up and their head bent over it I find it difficult/impossible to walk past. I am ashamed to say that it is even harder if it is a pretty woman, but usually in that case there’s a queue of similarly motivated men in front of me.
It was only relatively recently that I discovered that there is a term for what I do and that is a ‘rescuers syndrome’. Most of the published research on this is to do with relationships not plumbing. People find emotionally vulnerable or damaged partners and ride in on a white charger to put everything right. My wife certainly doesn’t fit into this category so I must assume that my rescuer’s syndrome is more a hobby than a life force. Nevertheless it is there and it has manifested itself most noticeably in my plumbing and building work by doing favours for people that I hardly even know. In other words not charging them for extras I should have charged for or giving them a discount if I felt they were strapped for cash. The psychiatrist concludes that this is not really an attempt to rescue strangers but all about rescuing myself. Apparently I am trying to slay the dragons that developed in childhood.
It was only relatively recently that I discovered that there is a term for what I do and that is a ‘rescuers syndrome’ – it has manifested itself most noticeably in my plumbing and building work by doing favours for people that I hardly even know.
Even more alarming is that the experts say this doesn’t work and very soon frustration and resentment creeps in. That bloke down the road who’s leak I fixed for a tenner has just come back from a Caribbean cruise. In truth he never asked for the discount but I feel he owes me and I am now giving him evil stares.
Armed with this new self awareness, I am resisting all urges to act as The Good Samaritan. From this day forward it is all about me. Me first, me first. I will not simply pass by on the other side. I will cross the road, give them a good kicking and then walk away laughing. I am now operating on jungle law, survival of the fittest, kill or be killed. Apparently it is a much healthier attitude.
Roger finally gets his hands on the Hitachi DV18DBXL, but was it worth the wait? Find out in this bench test.
Hitachi DV18DBXL/JX 18v Brushless Combi Drill inc 2x 6.0Ah Batteries, Charger and Carry Case
Features:
Combi drill with brushless motor technology
All new 6.0Ah Li-Ion batteries with multifunction protection circuit
Class leading hard torque of 136Nm
New fast charger with 38 minute charge time
Reactive Force Control (RFC) kickback control safety feature
Compact body at only 204mm long
High-performance Röhm chuck with spindle lock
22 stage torque setting
New robust aluminium gear case
Low battery indicator
Built-in LED work light
Packed in Hitachi stackable carry case
Specification:
Voltage: 18v
Battery Capacity: 6.0Ah Lithium-Ion
Charge Time: 38 mins
No-load Speed Low: 0-500/min
No-load Speed High: 2100/min
Impact Rate: 0-31500/min
Max Torque (hard): 136Nm
Max Drilling Capacity in Brick: 16mm
Max Drilling Capacity in Wood: 76mm
Max Drilling Capacity in Metal: 13mm
Overall Length: 204mm
Weight inc Battery: 2.5kg
The Government has made the right decision to row back on its plan to hike up National Insurance Contributions for the self-employed, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said.
Brian Berry, FMB Chief Executive, said: “At a time when we need to do everything we can to ensure economic stability, this would have been a destabilising tax increase which would have hit large numbers of tradespeople on quite modest incomes. That would have felt very unfair and would have been in danger of undermining the entrepreneurial spirit Britain will need to rely on as we approach the economic uncertainty of Brexit. There is an important debate to be had about how we ensure an even playing field in the taxation of the self-employed and the directly employed. But we need to do that in a way that allows people to plan ahead and ensures the total package of tax and benefits is fair to the self-employed.”
New figures from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reveal that the UK construction industry could lose almost 200,000 EU workers post-Brexit should Britain lose access to the single market, putting some of the country’s biggest infrastructure and construction projects under threat.
RICS has cautioned that for Brexit to succeed, it is essential to secure continued access to the EU Single Market or to put alternative plans in place to safeguard the future of the property and construction sectors in the UK.
The UK is already in the grip of a construction skills crisis. While some overseas professionals, such as ballet dancers, are regarded as critical by the UK Government, and are therefore prioritised during the visa application process, construction professions have not yet been added to the ‘UK Shortage Occupations List’.
Latest RICS figures show that 8% of the UK’s construction workers are EU nationals, accounting for some 176,500 people. 30% of construction professionals surveyed revealed that hiring non-UK workers was important to the success of their businesses.
The UK is already in the grip of a construction skills crisis. While some overseas professionals, such as ballet dancers, are regarded as critical by the UK Government, and are therefore prioritised during the visa application process, construction professions have not yet been added to the ‘UK Shortage Occupations List’. RICS is warning that this could already be placing the UK’s predicted £500 billion infrastructure pipeline under threat and must be addressed as a priority.
When asked about the effectiveness of current plans to address the UK’s long-term skills shortages, 20% of respondents felt that apprenticeship schemes were not effective at all.
A Manchester building contractor and a company owner have appeared in court after a worker was seriously injured on a refurbishment site.
The 53-year-old father of two from Salford was employed as a labourer at the site of a refurbishment project at Manchester One, Portland Street Manchester when the incident occurred on 29 August 2014.
The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and on 9 March 2017 Workspace Design and Build Ltd, the principal contractor for the project, and Paul Harrison former director of Access Flooring Specialist Ltd were prosecuted for serious safety failings.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how two operatives working for Access Flooring Specialist Ltd had started the demolition of a freestanding concrete block wall on the site using a demolition hammer.
One of the men had started to cut into the wall just above the half way point, when the second man took over and continued from the top using step ladders for access. As he did so, the top half of the wall collapsed knocking him from the ladder and landing on top of him.
The injured person suffered fractures to his neck and back and spent three months in hospital following the incident. He has been unable to return to work since.
The HSE investigation found there was no suitable risk assessment in place for the work that was being carried out and the workers had not been provided with suitable work instructions for carrying out this task safely.
In addition to this no checks had been made regarding the injured workers training or experience, he was not provided with a site induction or adequate PPE for the task and the work on site was not being supervised.
Workspace Design and Build Ltd of Manchester One, Portland Street, Manchester pleaded guilty to breach of Regulation 22(1)(a) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2972.
Paul Harrison of Kirkfell Drive, Tyldsley, Manchester pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 37 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 relating to his companies’ breach of Regulation 13 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £1300and ordered to pay costs of £2851
Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Laura Moran said: “The risks associated with the demolition of the internal walls at Manchester One were not properly considered and, as a result, there was no safe system of work in place for the operatives to follow.
“Together with a lack of adequate supervision, these failings resulted in one man suffering serious and life changing injuries, which could have been prevented had the work been properly planned and managed.”
For more information about working safely at demolition sites visit:
In this brand new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers.
Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created to support a network of participating retail outlets and trade merchants across the UK and Ireland.
Over 2,000 stockists throughout the UK and Ireland feature the Real Deals for You promotion, which is designed to provide significant savings on leading brand products while helping to support local trade.
In the second installment of the series Roger Bisby takes a look at the Komelon Powerblade II 8m/26ft Tape Measure.
Following the launch of its Baxi 200 and 400 Combis, boiler manufacturer Baxi has added heat only models to its super-powered range.
Weighing in at just 19.5kg, the Baxi 200 and 400 Heat boilers are said to be the lightest in the UK, and include a number of time-saving features, which mean installations can be completed quickly.
Available in outputs from 12Kw to 30Kw, Baxi 200 and 400 Heat boilers are compact enough to fit into a kitchen cupboard, and are suitable for most property sizes. An easy fit wall mounting bracket, along with a one metre lead which removes the need to access the control box, allows installers to fit these models in a flash. What’s more, front and side access means servicing is quicker and easier, with no special tools required.
These heat only heroes are bound to be a favourite with homeowners too – with no need for pump overrun or permanent live, disruption is kept to an absolute minimum and saves time during installation. And for ultimate flexibility, an industry leading choice of flue lengths means they can be sited anywhere.
Jon Phillips, head of product management at Baxi, comments: “The entire Baxi 200 and 400 range has been designed to make life easier for our loyal Baxi installers – and the new heat only boilers are no exception.
“These lightweight heat only boilers make installation as simple as possible, and by removing the need for a pump over-run and permanent live, disturbance to customers’ homes is kept to an absolute minimum.”
The new Baxi 200 and 400 Heat boilers are available now, exclusively from independent merchants.
The Baxi 200 Heat comes with a three year parts and labour warranty, whilst the Baxi 400 Heat is available with a five year promotional parts and labour warranty.
To learn more about the new boilers, installers can register for a free hands-on training course at centres around the UK.
They can also benefit from the Baxi Works online loyalty and business support scheme, nationwide technical support and aftercare through Baxi Customer Support and same or next day spare part delivery through Baxi Genuine Parts.
The average British worker spends as many as 120 hours per year using their smartphones in the workplace, and those working in construction are among the highest users, according to new research.
Research of 2,012 UK adults carried out by gadgets and technology etailer, LaptopsDirect.co.uk, has revealed more than three quarters (78%) of construction workers admit to using their smartphones during working hours.
78% regularly respond to personal text messages during working hours, and 59% regularly take personal phone calls whilst working.
52% admit to answering instant messages via platforms such as Whatsapp and Facebook, whilst 9% have sent a Snapchat from their workplace.
44% of respondents said their workplace permitted reasonable use of smartphones.
More than a third (38%) regularly check their social media accounts while in the workplace.
Mark Kelly, marketing manager at LaptopsDirect.co.uk, said: “It’s no surprise that we are addicted to our smartphones however overuse during working hours can add up, leaving a serious shortfall in productivity. Although companies monitor and prohibit the use of social media during the working day, the research shows that there is still a large amount of people continuing to use their device.
“Use of smartphones and social media in the workplace can lead to hundreds of thousands of hours in lost productivity per year, which could cost UK companies millions of pounds.”
Consumers prefer to hire firms that train apprentices, according to new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week in England, this new research, based on responses from 2,000 homeowners across the UK, reveals that:
Almost two-thirds of homeowners would have a more favourable image of a building firm knowing they train apprentices
Half of the homeowners would be more likely to actually hire a building firm knowing they train apprentices (all else being equal)
More than two in five would be more likely to recommend a building firm to a friend or family member based on the fact they train apprentices
Almost two-thirds of homeowners think that building firms should highlight the fact that they are training the next generation of tradespeople in their marketing material
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “This new research confirms what many of us already knew – apprentices are good for your business. The building industry is extremely competitive and these results suggest that training an apprentice will help a firm stand out from the crowd.
“Home owners aren’t just concerned about the craftsmanship of their builder, they want to know they are hiring a firm with strong values. It therefore makes sense that a business that invests in young people is seen in a better light. If the burgeoning skills crisis in the construction industry wasn’t enough to motivate those firms not already training to start doing so, hopefully this evidence will do the trick. It’s helpful to know that apprenticeship training can not only provide rewarding career opportunities for young people, but it can also help a firm’s bottom line.”
Berry concluded: “Next month will see the introduction of the Government’s new Apprenticeship Levy on large firms, so this year could see a big shift in terms of who is directly involved in apprenticeship training. In construction, two-thirds of all apprentices are trained by SMEs and it is our hope that the new Levy will encourage the larger firms to also engage more readily in training the future workforce. What’s great about this research is that it demonstrates the positive image that a real focus on quality training can bring to a company from a commercial perspective – no doubt this applies across the business community and not just in the construction sector.”
Construction firm, Structural Metal Decks Limited, (SMDL) has been fined after a worker was left paralysed following an accident at a building site in Kilsyth.
The worker suffered injuries to his spinal cord and is now paralysed from the neck down following the incident.
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard how Structural Metal Decks Ltd had been sub-contracted to lay metal deck flooring by John Graham Construction Ltd who were building a new health centre in Kilsyth. On 22 April 2015, a scaffolder was moving scaffolding components when he stood on a section of decking which had been put in place by SMDL. The decking sheet gave way and the man fell more than four metres to the ground.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the metal deck sheets on the first level of the building had not been secured properly and the access to the first level of the decking was not adequately controlled allowing non-decking workers onto the deck.
Structural Metal Decks Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 3 (1) and 33 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and were fined £105,000.
Speaking after the verdict, HSE inspector Graeme McMinn said: “This is a tragic incident, which has had a devastating effect on a young man’s life. The accident could have been avoided if the Structural Metal Decks Ltd had taken appropriate safety precautions and ensured the decking sheets were properly secured.”
Gerber has introduced the Gerber Centre-Drive multi-tool which the company claims is a game-changing addition to its range designed for real life and heavy-duty work.
The tool’s one-thumb opening design allows for quick deployment of the three full size tools that are depended on the most: pliers, blades, and screwdriver.
The Centre-Drive introduces an extra-long 3.2 inch magnetic bit driver that opens to align with the centre axis of the tool. According to Gerber until now, no multi-tool has offered a full-size driver on the centre axis with a standard bit.
A single flick of the thumb reveals a full size blade which is said to be 30% larger than the competition. Whilst one-thumb opening sliding jaws deliver instant command of spring-loaded pliers which feature an X-Channel Rail System to eliminate rattle and open smoothly.
The USA made Centre-Drive also features a curated assortment of additional tools and comes with a lifetime warranty.
A freedom of information request by Unite, the union for construction workers, has uncovered that thousands of young people are being placed on so-called ‘dead-end’ classroom based construction courses.
The figures obtained from the Government’s Skills Funding Agency, reveal the number of classroom based construction courses increased by 14 per cent last year, totally dwarfing the number of apprentices beginning their training. The increase in classroom courses comes at a time when the construction skills gap is widening rapidly.
Unite has released the FOI figures during national apprenticeship week. The construction courses are described as ‘dead-end’ because trainees are only usually able to achieve a technical qualification, as they don’t have access to on-site training.
The only qualification recognised in construction is the NVQ and this can’t be achieved without substantial site experience. An NVQ or equivalent qualification is necessary to acquire a Construction Sector Certification Scheme (CSCS) card which is usually required to work on construction sites. In most cases people undertaking classroom training have no avenue to achieve an NVQ.
The high number of classroom courses has a major effect on the number of young people recorded as NEETs (not in education, employment or training).
A total of 192,500 people began a classroom based construction course, compared to 167,000, a 14 per cent increase.
However during the same 12 months just 21,460 people began a construction apprenticeship. Therefore, 89 per cent of people beginning a construction course are undertaking potentially ‘dead-end’ training.
Acting general secretary, Gail Cartmail, said: “These figures are truly shocking. For whatever reason we find ourselves in the terrible situation of increasingly offering young people a classroom construction course but also in effect denying them the chance to acquire the qualifications needed to enter the industry in a skilled role.
“Classroom based construction teaching has a vital role to play in the training of construction apprentices. What is urgently needed is a refocussing of resources to ensure that money is more effectively invested in boosting the number of genuine apprenticeships, so that a far higher number of young people can acquire the skills and qualifications to enter the industry.”
“We need to build an effective alliance including: Unite, employers, FE colleges, apprentice providers and the government to boost apprenticeships and ensure young people are able to access meaningful courses.”
A Bedfordshire based contractor has been fined after failing to carry out suitable assessment of asbestos removal work.
Luton Magistrates Court heard how Anthony West was contracted to complete demolition work at a building in Biggleswade. West then had a pre-demolition asbestos survey carried out for the building.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had the demolition work reported to 16 April 2015by a member of the public which prompted an investigation into the work.
The investigation found that West did not adequately check the pre-demolition asbestos survey before carrying out the work, and did not follow advice to use a licensed asbestos removal contractor.
West, of Earwig Farm House, Pavenham, Bedford has pleaded guilty to breaching sections 5,7,8 and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and has been fined £2970 and ordered to pay costs of £5419.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Alison Outhwaite said: “The safety failings in this case could have led to severe illness in later years. West not only put himself at risk to exposure but potentially to fellow workers and members of the public walking past. Duty holders have the responsibility to ensure that adequate assessments take place to avoid the risk of asbestos exposure. This includes checking the accuracy and clarity of any information provided by others.”
During National Apprenticeship Week, David Jackson, Founder and Chairman for construction audit and contract provider, Hudson Contract urges more companies to support young talent and comments on the likely impact of the new Government Apprenticeship Levy.
“With a lifetime of working in construction, I remain passionate about championing our industry as a great place to work and doing everything I can to make it a profession of choice for young people today.
Apprentice Sponsorship Schemes
We are all aware of the skills shortage in construction, making it even more vital that we, as an industry, take note and do our bit to help.
“The government’s increasing reliance on our industry to spearhead improvements in infrastructure should create demand for more skilled workers within the sector.
Training, including Apprenticeships, will therefore play an important part to increase the number of skilled operatives in the sector.
“Apprenticeships are crucial to enticing new talent into the industry because they provide the perfect environment for people to kick-start their careers.
The combination of practical guidance and on-the-job training from employers and the skills learned at college, give apprentices a solid foundation for working in the trades.
“Equally, there are many advantages for those construction firms who choose to nurture young talent in the industry.
Taking on apprentices provides flexibility to the existing workforce, allows a company to develop new recruits to directly meet its own business’ needs, and can also introduce new skills and energy into the team.
Government Levy
“The Government’s new levy which is set to launch in April, will fund 3 million Apprenticeships by 2020.
Firms which have a payroll of more than £3 million per year will contribute through their RTI HMRC submissions, and the money will be dished out to anyone who takes on an apprentice – levy payer or not – through the Skills Funding Agency.
The introduction of the levy and training service will be very welcome, and will certainly make it easier for employers to build their workforce from the ground up.
However, the levy alone will not be enough to combat the construction industry skills shortage.
“This is why we, at Hudson Contract, are also calling on firms across the country to establish an Apprentice Sponsorship Scheme like our own. We offer 12 months’ financial support to employers, in our local area, to help them take on an apprentice, paying 50 per cent of each apprentice’s wage for the first year of their training.
Keeping it Simple
The scheme is really simple – and it has to be, to ensure there’s plenty of take-up in an area where only a handful of construction firms have more than five employees.
“Over the past five years we have sponsored more than 80 apprentices. By way of investing in the future of the industry, we aim to support a further 20 apprentices over the coming year.
We would really like to see other companies follow suit to help foster the skills our industry needs, across the electrical, plumbing, building and joinery trades.”
In this brand new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of new products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers.
Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created to support a network of participating retail outlets and trade merchants across the UK and Ireland.
Over 2,000 stockists throughout the UK and Ireland feature the Real Deals for You promotion, which is designed to provide significant savings on leading brand products while helping to support local trade.
In the first installment of the series Roger Bisby takes a look at the Leica Lino L2 Self Levelling Cross Line Laser.
In this video the Skill Builder team travel to Berlin for Milwaukee’s Heavy Duty Fest 2017.
In this first episode from the event, Rich Powell gives us a demo of the M18 FUEL Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Mitre Saw, the M18 FUEL Drywall Screw Gun and the M18 FUEL SAWZALL Reciprocating Saw with ONE-KEY tracking and management technology.
More detail for products featured in this video:
M18 FMS254-0 (Mitre saw)
Milwaukee designed and built brushless POWERSTATE motor for up to 2x longer motor life and up to 25% more power
REDLINK PLUS intelligence system delivers the most advanced digital overload protection for tool and battery and uniquely enhances the tool performance under load
REDLITHIUM-ION battery pack delivers up to 2.5x more run time, up to 20% more power, up to 2x more battery life and operates better down to -20°C than other lithium-ion technologies
254 mm blade delivers large and accurate cut capacities
Quick release bevel setting with detents allows the simple setting of bevel angles to the left and right
Large sliding fences gives maximum support to the material being cut providing stability and accuracy
Trenching stop with depth adjustment allows the user to make trenching and rebate cuts
Up to 307 cuts in 38 mm x 89 mm soft wood with a 9.0 Ah battery gives the ability to work a full day without recharging the battery
Integrated carry handle allows easy transportation on and off the jobsite
Steel detent plate with preset angles gives repeatable accurate cuts
LED light to illuminate the work piece and cut line in low light conditions
M18 FSGC-202 (Screw gun)
AUTO-START technology: When activated the power only engages when the screw gun is pushed into the material during application, delivering unmatched run-time
Quick release ¼˝ Hex chuck allows for easy bit change
Fine adjustment nose cone for setting desired countersink levels in single screw applications
Removable collated attachment allows the user to use the gun as a stand alone screwdriver or a collaged screw gun.
Intuitive design of collated attachment to allow for easy cleaning of drywall dust.
Reinforced collated attachment to protect against dropping of tool
M18 ONESX-502X (Recip saw)
M18 CSX but with ONE-KEY technology
Connect via Bluetooth with the Milwaukee ONE-KEY app
Complete tool customisation via ONE-KEY app to tune the tool to your needs
Custom cut control provides advanced control over cutting speeds
Adjustable soft start provides more accurate cut-starts in various materials minimising blade chatter and assisting in cleaner faster cuts
Cut optimisation gives longer blade life and easier cutting in a wide range of materials
Automatic brake allows the saw to stop the blade after it breaks through a material preventing accidental cuts in adjacent materials
Plunge cut allows the blade to penetrate the material at a slower speed and then automatically ramp to full speed, sensing an increase in force from the user
Save up to four custom settings to the tools memory allowing fast and easy selection of the most used configurations
ONE-KEY app also provides inventory function for total management of your complete tool/equipment fleet
Checkatrade has announced that is to become the official sponsor of ITV’s new series, Lethal Weapon.
The new show which will run for 18 weeks features Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford as the two protagonists.
The original Lethal Weapon franchise comprised four feature films and were a huge hit on the silver screen movie from 1987 to 1998 with the first film grossing $120 million at the box office. The film focussed on two mismatched detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department played by Hollywood big shots, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.
In 2016, some 18 years after the success of the film franchise, FOX TV premiered a spin-off television series of the same name. After receiving great reception in America, ITV purchased the series which is set to air in the UK on Friday 3 March at 9pm.
The sponsorship gives Checkatrade the opportunity to capture the attention of an estimated audience of audience of 24.4 million.
Founder and CEO of Checkatrade, Kevin Byrne, comments: “Myself and everyone at Checkatrade.com are extremely excited about this new sponsorship opportunity. In recent years we have invested a lot of time and attention into branching into new areas through sponsorship. This television sponsorship is proof of it succeeding. The programme has been a huge success across the pond so I am really looking forward to watching it become an equally great success over here.”
