Delivered by the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG) - the NFDC’s training arm - 10 managers took part in a five-day course concluding with two days at the ACT-UK Simulation Centre in Coventry. There they were able to demonstrate their newly learned competencies using virtual reality. Working from replica site cabins, participants were asked to deal with real life problems such as resolving various discrepancies between contractors and foremen.
The NFDC implemented the course after identifying the need for a new training scheme which gave participants a new way of thinking within the demolition sector – focusing on behavioural techniques and communication skills. Waste management skills and environmental controls were also key priorities in the scheme’s syllabus, ensuring everyone present learns the best ways to implement sustainable approaches within their own organisations.
Following the success of the course, the NDTG intends for the new programme to be a permanent addition to the CCDO/CSCS card scheme.
NDTG training manager Sophie Francis said: “The Demolition Managers programme has been a huge success to help individuals expand their knowledge and skills. Although the course was designed specifically for demolition managers, we hope that it will help everyone to work more effectively on site.”
“The NDTG is hoping to run a further eight intakes of this project throughout 2011. The UK Contractors Group is pushing heavily for behavioural training and techniques through the supply chain, and we feel that the demolition in-dustry is supporting this commitment through the ACT-UK Simulation Centre, as funded by CITB-ConstructionSkills. We would like to build on our successes by helping more demolition managers to obtain their CCDO cards with what has been an informative, relevant, and most of all, enjoyable programme of training.”
The scheme was funded by CITB-ConstructionSkills’ Management & Supervisory Development Programme (M&SDP). Established in 2001, the M&SDP works with construction federations and employers across England, Scotland and Wales to improve management and supervisory skills. It provides financial support to projects run by construction federations. These projects are aimed at bolstering business development and growth opportunities through individual skills training.
CITB-ConstructionSkills chief executive Mark Farrar said: “The M&SDP helps to support some of the most exciting and innovative projects within the industry. It gives construction federations a helping hand to make their projects a reality, but, most importantly, gives them autonomy over how those projects are delivered.
“The NFDC’s training scheme is a perfect example of how such funding can help to promote behavioural change within our industry which is constantly required to evolve in the face of new challenges. Facilities like ACT-UK help to enhance the learning experience of individuals by helping them to apply their knowledge practically in a “real life” situation.
More than 80 projects accessed financial support via the M&SDP in 2010, of which the CCDO Demolition Managers Course is just one. Almost half of the projects focus on the development of skills for sustainable construction and innovation, while a further 15 have provided opportunities for those working in the industry to improve their management and leadership abilities.
Additionally, more than 400 projects in total have benefitted from additional funding since the programme’s inception; 85% of these have been directed towards small and medium sized enterprises and the number of projects supported by the fund has increased steadily year on year.
CITB-ConstructionSkills is now encouraging construction Federations to consider applying for funding support for their projects this year. The scheme is yet another way that CITB-ConstructionSkills is adding value to the industry, ensuring it has a wealth of opportunities to improve skills development, which means that individuals working within it have the right skills, in the right place at the right time.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
