20th July 2015
The effects of the recession are still being felt in the UK construction industry as the ongoing brick shortage threatens to impact on plans to get britain building again to alleviate the housing shortage. Reigniting the Kilns During the recession, not only did many skilled workers, including bricklayers, lose their jobs, but suppliers and manufacturers […]
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14th July 2015
The UK is reported to have the widest skills gap between young people not in education, employment and training (NEETs), and their employed counterparts, in a recent 22-country survey carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Overall, (based on data from 2012) the literacy gap in the UK was at 12.6%, […]
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6th July 2015
In April, Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court heard a case pertaining to an incident that had occurred in September 2012, when a worker received serious injuries whilst renewing a sewage outfall on a beach in Hartlepool. The worker, Mr Wilson, has been standing in sea water, using a 4-tonne piling hammer suspended from an excavator, to drive […]
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29th June 2015
Leaving school or college and becoming an apprentice can be difficult – but you’re only just beginning your career and you want to make sure it gets off to the best start! You’ve done the easy part: finding an apprenticeship placement. Now it’s time to do the hard part and learn to be effective in […]
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11th June 2015
The Office of National Statistics has reported the lowest unemployment rates for over 6 years, with the official figure standing at just 5.6% in the quarter leading to February. 31 million people were reportedly in work, which was around 250,000 more than the quarter leading to November, and around 500,000 more than the previous […]
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8th June 2015
If you work in the health and safety industry, chances are you’ll be attending the IOSH annual conference on the 16th and 17th June 2015. Primarily aimed at people in senior positions, or leaders within the health and safety industry, this year’s conference is promising 2 days of specialist speakers from all over the world. […]
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27th May 2015
The Association of Colleges (AoC) has recently expressed concerns that 190,000 placements for adult education will be lost next year due to severe funding cuts, reducing the budget by 24%. They believe that if these cuts continue and nothing is done to address this situation, there is a good chance that adult education in England […]
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20th May 2015
The Powered Access Licence or PAL card (issued by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) is well know throughout the world, and across a wide range of industries and sectors. It provides proof that platform workers have reached the required level of training to operate the necessary equipment and undertake their role safely and legally. […]
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11th May 2015
Health and safety in the workplace is of paramount importance in any organisation, and the various guidelines and legislations that govern workplaces up and down the country must be adhered to at all times. When these rules are not complied with, the consequences can be severe for individuals and businesses alike, as a packaging company […]
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6th May 2015
We’re fast approaching the next general election, and while many of the parties are promising to increase the minimum wage, increase the number of apprenticeships available and increase commitments to housebuilding and the construction industry – how do you know which party is best supporting your personal interests? We’ve put together a quick summary […]
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28th April 2015
It’s no secret that the UK construction industry is experiencing a serious skills shortage following the recession, which is leaving many companies short staffed and unable to fulfill contracts. Employers are looking abroad for the required skills, but by hiring an apprentice, you could save money and build a more effective and efficient workforce. As […]
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22nd April 2015
A new report, published by recruitment specialists Randstad, has found that 20% of jobs in the UK construction industry are currently held by women. This may not seem like a breakthrough figure, considering that the male/female divide in most professional and technical sectors is now fairly equal. But when we consider that in 2010 women […]
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15th April 2015
No matter how well maintained your forklift truck is, sometimes you’ll turn the key or push the button, and it just will not start. Of course, now you’re morning is wasted and you have to shell out for an emergency repair call out. The most frustrating thing is when the engineer turns up, diagnoses the […]
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9th April 2015
Workplace accidents rarely result in death, but the injuries and illnesses that result can be life changing and even life shortening, leaving victims disfigured, disabled and in pain. The government’s new initiative, Revitalising Health and Safety, will hopefully help to lower the figure of workplace injuries and illnesses. But in the meantime, this infographic by […]
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24th March 2015
As increasingly more contractors and construction companies throughout the UK are turning to migrant labour to fill the skills gap in the industry, it begs the question – why aren’t we utilising our own unemployed workforce? Well, the simple answer is that we don’t have enough apprentices. For the eighth year in a row, the […]
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18th March 2015
According to the HSE, almost half of all accidents involving power tools and abrasive wheels result from a mistake made by the operator, or an unsafe system of work, both of which can be avoided if an adequate health and safety policy is followed. We’ve put together a simple guide for those expected to […]
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