A qualified workforce : Mark Priestman says there's no point winking at ladies in the dark
Mark Priestman has more than 20 years’ experience in the natural stone sector. He plays an active role in the development and delivery of training in this specialist environment. Along with his father, David Priestman, he runs a training consultancy whose mantra is: Qualify the Workforce!
I love a good quotation. This one by Stewart Henderson Britt, is both a revelation and humorous: “Doing business without advertising is like winking at a lady in the dark – you know what you are doing but no-one else does!”
Of course ‘advertising’ is bigger than just commercials. We advertise our wares through our business card and brochure, website, e-circulars, mail shots, social and business-to-business networks, open events… even the templates we use for PQQs (pre-qualification questionnaires), quotations and tender submissions.
I’m going to leave marketing advice with experts such as our very own Mssrs Gayle and Scott. My focus here is whether as an employer you are getting the full ‘bragging rights’ from the training and qualifications your business achieves.
Let me offer you a seven step guide training.
l Step one: If you are training apprentices so that natural stone skills are kept alive and relevant, do your potential customers know you are?
l Step two: Do your prospects know the percentage of CSCS experienced worker cards your team of operatives holds? This could make for interesting reading when comparing your firm against others.
l Step three. If your workforce has over 75% of on-site workers carded, you can apply to CSCS for its Gold ‘Committed to CSCS’ Award. Likewise, if 90% or more fit the bill you can apply for the Platinum award. Neither will break the bank – they cost £50 for three years of bragging! See more at: http://www.cscs.uk.com/cscs-cards/certificates-of-commitment
l Step four: If your operatives not only hold a CSCS card but hold the correct card for the job they do, this needs highlighting, too. Having the right person doing the job is integral to the Construction Design & Management Regulations.
l Step five: Make sure that not only appropriate trade cards are in order but also correctly carded supervisors and managers are in place. As a rule of thumb ANYBODY on your team issuing orders to others should have the supervisor (gold) card and key managers need… you’ve guessed it… the managers (black) card. Caution is needed here as gold cards can be achieved via other routes. Your supervisors’ gold cards should say ‘supervisor’ on the rear to be appropriate for this exercise.
l Step six: multiply the advantage of what your team has achieved by applying for other accreditations beyond just CSCS. For example, someone with a level 3 NVQ can also gain associate member level of CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building), if they have a level 6 NVQ, entry to the prestigious Incorporated Member level and beyond is attainable, and a level 7 NVQ assists toward full Chartered Member status.
l Step seven: Did you know CIOB offers recognition to firms if at least one of its executives is a chartered member of the institute and approximately three quarters of its board has relevant industry qualifications? See: www.ciob.org/cbc-schemes#sthash.dKkxNM9V.dpuf
Moving on from winking, how about something to send you cartwheeling?
There remain two spaces unfilled for the Façade Preservation Specialist Apprenticeship Programme that starts on 25 November. Training is spread over 2 years, just 21 days
off-project. Trainees can be enrolled, but so can any employee without formal NVQs in this discipline.
If you want more information email me. Firms can achieve a surplus in grant (over and above the fee) of around £6,000 per learner – this is an extraordinary grant, unlikely to be repeated beyond the current intake and the next intake in February.
Contact me as well if you are interested in snapping up one (or more) funded NVQ spaces where employees are assessed on-site.
This route is for experienced workers. Funded L2 NVQs are £400 (instead of £1,250) and include: banker-mason, façade cleaning, façade restorer, fixer mason, cladding, cutting, floor installation, paving installation and water jetting. Some discounts are also available for L3 and L6 NVQs.
Over the next few months I want to focus on some of the questions you’ve asked me about, for example, the modern apprenticeship, student loans and colleges specialising in our sector’s skills. And if you have any training and qualification related questions you want answered, please email me at mark@priestmanweb.com