Scottish Enterprise project benefits local employers
More than 2,500 utility mains contractors have been upskilled since 2005 as part of an ongoing £1 million upskilling project funded by Scottish Enterprise and local employers.
Recent course numbers have been at record levels, as employers upskill their staff in anticipation of the new competence requirements being introduced by Scottish Water.
The courses are being facilitated by Sector Skills Council Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills),who successfully bid for, and secured funding, from Scottish Enterprise, on behalf of its employers, to maintain and improve the skills levels of its workers to satisfy current and future technical, legislative and safety requirements. The project is part of the Scottish Enterprise Construction Skills Action Plan. Launched in 2003, the Plan represents a groundbreaking approach to addressing the needs of one of Scotland's major industries. Scottish Enterprise (SE) approved a £35 million package of construction related training programmes and projects, in response to clear evidence that the construction industry would be unable to meet an unprecedented level of demand for development in the built environment and its accompanying infrastructure requirements.
The courses are varied and are in response to whatever the employers demand. The aim is to encourage employers to upskill operational staff and to do it early on in their careers. The main requirement from employers is that the courses are short in duration, and so the courses range from one day to two weeks.
Typical courses include a range of qualifications on water and gas distribution, the New Roads and Street Works Act qualification, and health and safety refreshers. Some qualifications on offer can count towards a full S/NVQ.
Recently, Scottish Water announced that it would require evidence of competence before any contractor could work on its network. The qualification introduced to support this, Distribution Operation Maintenance Strategy (DOMS) Water, has been the most popular course requested on the project in the months up to October, and has boosted participant numbers to record levels. In July this year there were 129 participants on 35 courses. In September this had jumped to 341 participants on 65 courses.
Since the project began there have been around 200 different employers taking part, and the scheme is open to any size of business. The only requirement for employers entering staff for these courses is that they reside within the Scottish Enterprise footprint, which is most of southern and central Scotland.
Allan Jamieson, Skills Manager, Energy & Utility Skills, says: “These courses encourage employers who might not otherwise upskill their staff to invest in training. The courses fit in with employers’ needs and schedules, and they enable many smaller employers to look at their training requirements.”
Stephanie Young, Senior Director, Skills & LearningSE Glasgow, says: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Energy & Utility Skills in delivering a range of workforce development training to this important sector in the construction industry.”
Gordon Robertson, Training Manager, Turriff Contractors, adds: “Without the funding by Scottish Enterprise provided by Energy & Utility Skills we would not have been able to upskill as many people as we have. This has allowed us to expand the business. We have ongoing involvement with the scheme on a monthly basis.”
