As a battle weary Fellow who has experienced public and private sectors, consultancy and contracting, design and maintenance and now works in further and higher education, I feel compelled to address some of the points raised in the article “Contractors tackle skills gap by taking training on site” (CM January, News).
Colleges are “not moving fast enough to keep up with industry”, “great at theory” and “it’s not a criticism”. What a sweeping generalisation. We might just as well accept that all contractors are experts in new materials and new methods. But this statement is simply not correct. Can I point out to high-profile failures with roof members in the Scottish Parliament building, or the moving footbridge over the Thames, or point to historical use of bright new wonderful materials such as asbestos?
What is the agenda? Contractors exist to make a return on capital employed. It might be that there is some funding available for this wheeze. Or it might be a strategy to replace portable authentic qualifications with constrained “firm-specific” qualifications which tie the employee to one firm. Or is it a way to corner the market and see off the small firms? Who will assess and certify the onsite work? What are the qualifications of those teaching?
Colleges and contractors must vary in abilities and niches. In my college, for example, we have staff who continue with external construction work. I have continued to research methods, materials and standards. Indeed, we are waiting on industry to ask for tuition in Eurocodes. Contractors too vary in their niches: in the east of Scotland there are many small firms who cannot do as the mighty Bovis Lend Lease are about to do.
The best method for teaching construction technicians is through day release to a college where, unfettered by day-to-day work demands and managerial interference, candidates can focus on theory, but also learn from their peers.
In the workplace this can strengthen candidates’ performance and be certified on a national basis to provide consistency and meet expectations.
Brian Davidson Cook, BA (Hons) MSc FCIOB CEng FIHEEM
Source
Construction Manager
