TEESSIDE SCAFFOLDER
Well-known member
Scaffolders hit the heights
TWO Caithness apprentices have become the first Scots scaffolders to be trained at a state-of-the-art English college, courtesy of the industry’s training body.
John Holmes at the National Construction College in Norfolk
Liam Crombie and John Holmes travelled around 600 miles to attend the first of three block scaffolding apprenticeship training programmes far from home at the CITB-Construction Skills’ training college in Norfolk.
Liam (20), from Wick, who works for Caithness Scaffolding Contractors Ltd, and John (28), from Thurso, who works for Donn’s Scaffolding and Steelfixing Ltd, returned last Friday after spending two weeks at the National Construction College (NCC) in King’s Lynn.
The pair were responding to the recent high demand for scaffolders in the north of the country, which has seen the CITB’s Scottish centre fully booked until March next year.
Graeme Ogilvy, Scotland director of the training body, said fully-qualified people working in the sector are at a premium, particularly in the north.
"The training facility based at our Scotland headquarters has been operating to full capacity for some time now and is booked solid until next spring," he said.
"It is important to react quickly in order to satisfy demand in specific trades across the construction industry. The decision was made to help meet this growing demand and to send the Scottish apprentice scaffolders to the NCC as any delay would have a further knock-on effect for the industry."
John and Liam were part of a group of apprentices, drawn from as far afield as Nairn, Orkney and Shetland.
Each member of the group is currently working towards a two-year Modern Apprenticeship in scaffolding.
The group is to spend 10 weeks at the college in the course designed to complement on-the-job experience. A fortnight’s induction is followed by a further six weeks of intensive training, working with CITB-ConstructionSkills’ highly-skilled apprenticeship officers.
The nine men, aged from 16 to 29, will also return to the college at the end of their apprenticeship to complete a two-week final assessment.
John said that despite some initial concerns about the distances involved, he is keen top see through the programme.
"The tutor was more than helpful, he was patient with people and explained things well and all of the facilities were pretty good," he told the
John O’Groat Journal.
Originally taken on as a labourer by Donn’s about four months ago, he was soon offered the scaffolding apprenticeship.
"They told me I would have to go down to Norfolk as the Glasgow training college was full," he said
"That can only be a good sign for the industry.
"I wasn’t sure what to expect but now that I’ve been I’d go back again any day."
Each member of the group lived on site for the two weeks in serviced accommodation and during their down time made use of college facilities including a social club, an outdoor all-weather pitch, a multi-purpose sports hall, an indoor swimming pool, gym and catering facilities.
They work each day in a huge hangar learning every aspect of the scaffolding trade. Important health and safety and drug and alcohol awareness modules are included in their stint.
CITB staff John Bond and Jim Stirling chaperoned the group’s first visit to the college.
"We regularly send plant operators down to the NCC for training but this is the first time we’ve utilised the English facility to train our Scottish scaffolders," said Mr Bond.
"A few members of the group come from some of the most remote parts of Scotland, so going down to Norfolk to stay for two weeks at the college was a bit of a journey for them as well as a fantastic learning experience."
TWO Caithness apprentices have become the first Scots scaffolders to be trained at a state-of-the-art English college, courtesy of the industry’s training body.
John Holmes at the National Construction College in Norfolk
Liam Crombie and John Holmes travelled around 600 miles to attend the first of three block scaffolding apprenticeship training programmes far from home at the CITB-Construction Skills’ training college in Norfolk.
Liam (20), from Wick, who works for Caithness Scaffolding Contractors Ltd, and John (28), from Thurso, who works for Donn’s Scaffolding and Steelfixing Ltd, returned last Friday after spending two weeks at the National Construction College (NCC) in King’s Lynn.
The pair were responding to the recent high demand for scaffolders in the north of the country, which has seen the CITB’s Scottish centre fully booked until March next year.
Graeme Ogilvy, Scotland director of the training body, said fully-qualified people working in the sector are at a premium, particularly in the north.
"The training facility based at our Scotland headquarters has been operating to full capacity for some time now and is booked solid until next spring," he said.
"It is important to react quickly in order to satisfy demand in specific trades across the construction industry. The decision was made to help meet this growing demand and to send the Scottish apprentice scaffolders to the NCC as any delay would have a further knock-on effect for the industry."
John and Liam were part of a group of apprentices, drawn from as far afield as Nairn, Orkney and Shetland.
Each member of the group is currently working towards a two-year Modern Apprenticeship in scaffolding.
The group is to spend 10 weeks at the college in the course designed to complement on-the-job experience. A fortnight’s induction is followed by a further six weeks of intensive training, working with CITB-ConstructionSkills’ highly-skilled apprenticeship officers.
The nine men, aged from 16 to 29, will also return to the college at the end of their apprenticeship to complete a two-week final assessment.
John said that despite some initial concerns about the distances involved, he is keen top see through the programme.
"The tutor was more than helpful, he was patient with people and explained things well and all of the facilities were pretty good," he told the
John O’Groat Journal.
Originally taken on as a labourer by Donn’s about four months ago, he was soon offered the scaffolding apprenticeship.
"They told me I would have to go down to Norfolk as the Glasgow training college was full," he said
"That can only be a good sign for the industry.
"I wasn’t sure what to expect but now that I’ve been I’d go back again any day."
Each member of the group lived on site for the two weeks in serviced accommodation and during their down time made use of college facilities including a social club, an outdoor all-weather pitch, a multi-purpose sports hall, an indoor swimming pool, gym and catering facilities.
They work each day in a huge hangar learning every aspect of the scaffolding trade. Important health and safety and drug and alcohol awareness modules are included in their stint.
CITB staff John Bond and Jim Stirling chaperoned the group’s first visit to the college.
"We regularly send plant operators down to the NCC for training but this is the first time we’ve utilised the English facility to train our Scottish scaffolders," said Mr Bond.
"A few members of the group come from some of the most remote parts of Scotland, so going down to Norfolk to stay for two weeks at the college was a bit of a journey for them as well as a fantastic learning experience."
