Welsh Slate products will feature on the Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year. Designed by Matthew Childs who grew up in Wales and supported by grant-giving charity Project Giving Back, it will celebrate the work of the Terrence Higgins Trust and its 2030 vision of there being no new HIV cases, where people with HIV are supported and live well and there is good sexual health for all.

The garden is inspired by rejuvenated slate quarry landscapes, which are said to be used as a metaphor "for resilience and how much things have changed with HIV in the UK since the 1980s."

A monolith Welsh Slate stepping stone bridge and steps produced from custom cuts and bi-product of Ffestiniog slate will be a key focus of the garden. Supplementing this will be a textural path produced from Type 2 pillared, rustic and narrow pillared walling, all from the Ffestiniog quarry. A contemporary dry stone wall produced from reclaimed Ffestiniog walling slate will complement the path, in addition to planting in crevices created by Ffestiniog primary off-cuts - sawn offcuts from slate blocks before they are split. 

Boulders from Welsh Slate’s Penrhyn Quarry will also feature throughout the garden - one as a balancing sculpture, one as part of Welsh designer Swyn Anwyl Williams’ furniture design, and another will become a water feature.

Reclaimed Ffestiniog roofing slates will clad the interior sides of the tiered garden pond at the front of the garden, and paths and garden mulches will be formed from Welsh Slate aggregate - Grey Blinding 14mm to dust and Grey 10mm to 20mm.

Of the garden, Matthew said: “I decided that the idea for a garden that I’d had 10 years ago was something I wanted to make happen and the generosity of Welsh Slate has been instrumental in helping me achieve my vision for the Bridge to 2030 garden.”

Welsh Slate own and operate the Penrhyn, Ffestiniog and Cwt-y-Bugail quarries in North Wales and is part of the Breedon Group.

CITB (The Construction Industry Training Board) will hold its Constructing Skills – CITB Skills & Training Conference at the home of Manchester City Football Club, Etihad Stadium, on 6 June.

The event is aimed at businesses in the construction sector and is free to attend. Those who attend will be able to learn about topics such as, the building safety act and the procurement act and also receive guidance on how to apply for and access funding.

There will be a range of workshops on offer and businesses will be able to choose those most relevant to them and provide feedback to the CITB executive team. CITB advisers, industry federations and training groups and training providers will also be present.

During the conference, there will be the opportunity to address the skills shortage and hear about plans to help training providers and construction companies work together.

Interested parties can register here – there is also the option to enjoy a stadium tour after the event.

For the past five years the message has been the same – but have you been paying attention? 

It is easy to think that deadlines are years in the future but suddenly they are upon us within months. That is where we are with the withdrawal of the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) cards issued under Industry Accreditation (IA). IA cards issued from 1st January 2020 will not be renewed after 31st December 2024. It is now time to take action to ensure your card continues.

It has been an issue we at the Natural Stone Industry Training Group (NSITG), have been working with members on for five years and still it will come as a surprise to many when they are told their cards can not be reissued as in previous years.

We know it causes anger in some, confusion in others and indifference in many but as a sector we need to work to ensure anyone who requires a CSCS card to carry out their work has a relevant and current scheme card. December is not too long away.

Industry Accreditation is also known as Managed Industry Accreditation (MIA) and Grandfather Rights. 

CSCS have information to guide and support on its website. It gives a comprehensive guide to the way to gain qualifications via OSAT (On Site Assessment and Training) and other ways of ensuring the card is re-issued. However, before you look at the routes there are things to consider.

Since the issue of your IA CSCS card have you gained qualifications in your trade? CSCS tell us that many IA card holders — Gold Advanced Craft, Blue Skilled Worker card and Gold Supervisor cards — have the current qualifications for the card to be issued under the revised December 2024 onward criteria. So, check the qualifications that you have gained since your IA card was issued. 

Also, IA card holders often have apprenticeships or membership of professional bodies that qualify holders for the revised criteria. One problem is that many apprenticeships were carried out years ago and paperwork has been lost over many years. This is where an appeal can be made to CSCS. They will work on an individual case by case basis to help ensure apprenticeships are recognised. You may have old indenture papers in a brown envelope hiding in “that” box that also holds your swimming certificate or cycling proficiency test. Go though your documents. Is your original employer still in existence and able to give a written statement that you undertook an apprenticeship with them? All these things can be dealt with via an appeal if you can not find your original apprenticeship or qualification documents. 

Contact CSCS via email initially at customerservice@cscs.co.uk and write ‘CSCS appeal’ in the subject line. 

NSITG can also help members with appeals and have already been able to support the issue of new criteria cards for members with IA cards. It is worth noting that there are many websites claiming to help with this process for a fee. The appeals process via CSCS is free as is any help offered by NSITG. 

A new five-year plan has been launched to help tackle Scotland’s heritage skills gaps. Named The Skills Investment Plan (SIP) it will work on collective solutions that support the future of our historic environment and the communities across Scotland that rely on it.

The plan identifies priority actions to build a healthy and sustainable skills system which supports paid staff, volunteers, sole traders, and organisations of all sizes across the sector. There are three priority themes: to grow provision and build capacity; attract future talent and improve access to the workforce; and foster innovation.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and 15 sector partners coordinated extensive research with 160 organisations and 340 individuals to support the development of this plan which is an extension of the original roadmap set out in 2019.

During the first five-year plan, there was progress in key areas including the creation of employability programmes in traditional building skills, developing a new training programme in energy efficiency, and reaching nearly 15,000 young people through campaigns such as Creative Careers Week, Build Your Future, and Defend the Castle to attract new talent. 

The refreshed plan reflects the landscape changes that have occurred, since the first plan was published and the sector continues to face challenges in attracting and retaining talent post-Brexit, as well as the additional work required to bring operations back to pre-pandemic levels. SIP will be launched officially at Scotland’s national conservation centre –  the Engine Shed to over 100 representatives involved in skills planning and delivery, leading heritage organisations, and funders, and will feature an address from Kaukab Stewart, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development who said: 

“The launch of the refreshed Skills Investment Plan for the Historic Environment represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts to safeguard and celebrate our historic environment. But it is only the beginning and I call upon those involved to actively engage in the delivery of the Skills Investment Plan over the next five years and face the challenges head-on together, with confidence and innovation.

Director of external relations and partnerships at HES, Alison Turnbull commented:

“The partnership and collaboration involved in developing this strategy demonstrates how we will work together as a sector and with our partners to build a skills system that works for the sector, that supports us to address challenges and seize opportunities collectively. We have learned from recent global challenges and their impact on the delivery of the SIP.  Therefore, it’s important that we work together as a sector and we remain committed to cooperation and collaboration. The themes and priority actions in the refreshed plan move us closer to our collective goal of helping to address the skills challenges constraining the operation and growth of the historic environment.

“A sustainable and successful heritage sector is also vital in meeting Scotland’s net zero target. This plan helps pave the way for us to attract and retain the skills and talent we need for a fairer, greener future. The plan recognises that a skilled workforce is crucial for the sector to continue to deliver for Scotland’s economy and to manage, protect and conserve our historic environment for generations to come.”

The Skills Investment Plan supports the delivery of Our Past, Our Future, Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment. Under this strategy organisations across the country are working together to sustain and enhance the benefits of Scotland’s historic environment. Pre-covid, this contributed £4.2 billion to Scotland’s economy. The plan responds to one of its key principles to help nurture and grow an inclusive, diverse and skilled workforce.

Cara Jones, sector skills manager at The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), said:

“Being part of the Skills Investment Plan has supported Scottish archaeology to further develop a strategic approach for skill development initiatives. It has enabled fresh conversations within our sector and beyond, and supported us to explore shared challenges, barriers and potential solutions. This includes maintaining the role that our sector plays in the active delivery of Our Past, Our Future and ‘Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy’. The sub-sector collaboration, enabled by being part of the Skills Investment Plan helps save time, resource and enables us to share expertise and learning experiences.

"CIfA has been pleased to contribute to the development of the refreshed SIP which will support the delivery of our own strategic objectives to ensure that our standards for accrediting competence, education, training and qualification standards are applicable and appropriate across all specialisms and roles. This work will not only help shape and promote archaeology as an attractive, rewarding and worthwhile career with parity of esteem with other professions, it will also support the development and promotion of non-traditional, diverse pathways to and through a career in Scottish archaeology. 

"We are delighted to see the refreshed Skills Investment Plan launch today and look forward to supporting the future delivery of the strategy.” 

Caesarstone has introduced 10 new designs to its growing range including three low-silica options as part of its minerals surfaces offer. A further seven designs are porcelain.

The collection called Time is inspired by 'the mineral evolution of geological phases' and feature textured effects. In the mineral surfaces range are: 5140 Dreamy Carrara, 5113 Solenna and 5310 Brillianza and these combine unique minerals, such as feldspar, with quartz and recycled elements. 

The company believe by 'increasing the recycled content of some products by up to 40%, and lowering the crystalline silica content to less than 40%, and in some cases, even as low as 10%' it can transition more designs from its quartz offering to this low-silica alternative. 

Edward Smith, managing director at Caesarstone UK and ROI, said: “at Caesarstone, we have built a legacy on our commitment to surface research and development, as well as our unwavering dedication to sustainability. This ethos extends beyond the finished product to encompass the safety and integrity of our entire supply chain. With the introduction of our Mineral Surfaces, we are proud to offer a Low-Silica option that not only meets our stringent sustainability standards but also upholds the high performance and durability expected from Caesarstone surfaces. Each Mineral Surface undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it meets the same exceptional standards that our customers have come to trust. The new Mineral Surfaces represent not just a new product offering but a continued dedication to innovation, sustainability and excellence in surface design.”

Tile adhesive company, Kerakoll Group has acquired 40,000 square metres of land in Preston to build its twentieth production plant globally, which is expected to open by spring 2026. This is the company's second production plant in the country – the first is in nearby Leyland – and is part of a global expansion plan with products being made and distributed from here to the rest of the UK and Northern Europe. 

The company, which has B Corp status, has also announced the appointment of Carl Gardner (who has held roles at Saint-Gobain and Travis Perkins) as general manager of the UK and director of the UK, Nordics and the Netherlands. His appointment is part of the implementation of the new International Business Unit of the Group.

Last year, Kerakoll turned over £40m in the UK and the new expansion plans will increase production capacity in the UK by 100% by 2028. It currently employs 130 employees in the UK and the new plant will employ green technologies and sustainable practices, such as photovoltaic panels, which are expected to produce 245 kWh per day, and advanced rainwater recycling systems. In line with its B Corp status, Kerakoll Group is committed to achieving Very Good, or above, in the BREEAM rating, an internationally recognised assessment of environmental performance. 

In 2017, Kerakoll purchased Tilemaster Adhesives and is continuing to integrate the brands. 

Marco Zini, CEO of Kerakoll Group, commented: “I couldn’t be prouder of Kerakoll Group’s latest accomplishments. Both the launch of our second production site project in Lancashire and the appointment of a seasoned professional like Carl Gardner reflect Kerakoll Group's unwavering dedication to accelerating expansion in strategically vital regions. I’m sure Carl will make a big impact in his new role, helping us sustain the momentum in our trajectory of international growth”.