30 apprentices taken on in new training agreement
Morgan Est has become the first utility contractor in decades to select and recruit new apprentices for upstream gas, electricity and water Apprenticeship qualifications in conjunction with a Further Education college.
On 2 July, 15 of Morgan Est’s new recruits started at North Trafford college in Stretford, Greater Manchester, training in upstream gas Apprenticeships. On 9 July, a further cohort will begin Apprenticeships in upstream electricity, and at the start of 2008, 15 upstream water trainees will begin their Apprenticeship training for the company.
Morgan Est’s move has come out of the Sector Skills Agreement research by Sector Skills Council Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills). The research showed that contractors had a strong need for new recruits, better training provision, and upskilling of the current workforce. Historically, contractors had never explored the possibility of using Further Education colleges for their training. EU Skills facilitated the involvement of North Trafford, which is a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) with a background in mechanical engineering training. Now, Morgan Est has training provision in the geographical area where most of its demand lies.
Upstream Apprentices train on utility networks. Morgan Est is a “first tier’ utility contractor, meaning it carries out a utility company’s network construction and maintenance demands, including vital work on the UK’s electricity, water and gas grids.
In addition to the new recruits, North Trafford is also providing refresher and upskilling courses to Morgan Est’s employees. These courses are in upstream gas and water NVQs, up to Level 3, and the New Roads and Streetworks (NRSW) qualification. Electricity courses are set to follow.
As well as Morgan Est, contractor Balfour Beatty Utilities Limited is using North Trafford to provide refresher qualifications to its staff in upstream gas and NRSW.
EU Skills is confident that the model of using a Further Education college for a contractor’s needs could be replicated regionally and in the devolved nations to form what would essentially be a “virtual” National Skills Academy. Unlike some other Sector Skills Councils, EU Skills has not applied to the government for a skills academy to cover the entire sector. However, this “virtual” Academy could quickly assist in meeting demand across the UK in this particular area.
Graham Else, Training Manager Morgan Est, comments: ‘We are delighted with the training in place for staff and new recruits at North Trafford College. There will be tangible benefits to our business, as the training is helping stem a very serious skills shortage. We are pleased it is good quality training by a reputable college, facilitated by Energy & Utility Skills, and funded by Manchester Learning & Skills Council.”
Steve Hyde, Skills Director, Energy & Utility Skills, adds: “We are pleased to see contractors such as Morgan Est and Balfour Beatty attacking the skills issues in the industry. Their commitment to the skills agenda and proactive approach to working with government agencies and training providers says a lot about their companies. We hope that the model of partnership working used in the North West can be replicated elsewhere in the country, in a virtual skills academy.”
