NEW SOLUTION FOR
BUILDER’S SKILLS SHORTAGES
Two and four week intensive courses
Even a trainee can earn their wages from day one
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With over 80,000 new
tradespeople needed every year in the building industry, its no
surprise that many firms are looking for new ways to plug their skills
gap.
To keep pace with customer’s demand, many contractors, large and small
are now looking for new ways to train their workforce and maintain
quality levels. |
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The traditional methods of
training young people coming into the industry by learning on-the-job, or
through formal (now modern) apprenticeships are often no longer efficient
enough. In reality, the company subsidises a young person’s wages while
they learn, first to make tea! Then, they have to rely on the goodwill and
time of their colleagues, to slowly pick-up the ‘tricks’ of their chosen
trade and earn the money they are being paid. In today’s fast moving, high
pressured, thin margin, building industry that’s a luxury few firms can
afford.
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Now a new company has
launched a training programme that it claims can help solve the
problem. Mark Humphreys of PTS (Professional Tiling Services) Ltd. got
the idea just two years ago and has already built his training company
into a multi-million pound business. “Basically, we take raw recruits
who are keen to succeed and put them through an intensive programme of
two , or four weeks training,” said Mark. “By the time they finish we
can confidently send them back to their companies with far more than
the basic skills they need, to make a contribution from day one. |
So far, PTS have
concentrated on Mark’s own trade, Tiling. They have two training centres
in Essex and one in Cheshire with a capacity to train over 50 people each
week. Now they have extended the idea to include the Painting and
Decorating trades and have been overwhelmed by demand for places on the
courses.
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“It’s clear that time
is at such a premium in Painting and Decorating, that anything a
contractor can do to get their workforce to maximum productivity in
the minimum time is well worth a small investment,” said Mark. “Even
whilst doing an NVQ through an outside provider, it can be many months
before an apprentice starts to pay his way. But by completing our
course first, trainees are immediately capable of earning their wages
even while still completing their NVQ.” |
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The tiling and
decorating courses are both run separately by experienced
professionals with years of experience of their respective trades.
Intensive one week programmes cover modules such as paint effects,
wallpapering, coving and textured surfaces and themed rooms.
More in-depth two and four week programmes are available for those who
wish to gain an all round professional finish, and to more quickly
improve their speed and accuracy. |
Essential health and safety
knowledge is included. The Health and Safety touch screen test and
application section of the CSCS card are all carried out and completed as
part of the course, on site, in the PTS Training Suite.
“Our intensive programme
has proved so valuable as a kick-start to their career, that many
apprentices are happy to pay for some of the costs themselves, said Mark.
Some firms come to a ‘pay-back’ arrangement with their people, as they see
the value of earning a skilled wage as soon as they can. This helps to
spread the costs of the course and makes it more manageable for both the
trainee and the employer.
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