Spec Finish

Skills FIND OUTMORE For more information about British Gypsum’s Site Ready Skimming Course, please visit www.british-gypsum.com/ technical-advice/training/about-our- courses/full-range-of-courses/site- ready-skimming-courses i www.thefis.org 11 I N this article, GarethDunn, Service Innovation Director at BritishGypsum, writes about their short, intensive course that has been designed to help upskill thosewho already have basic trowel skills, so they canmake an immediate and positive impact on site. We designed the Site Ready Skimming Course to support the plastering trade and the wider industry in its prolonged time of need – being well aware that skilled labour shortages have plagued construction businesses in the country for many years. Site ready The course has been developed with the objective of supporting subcontractors in upskilling their: • drylining tapers; • plastering labourers; • general labourers; or • employees with basic trowel skills; to be able to skim plasterboard on site. We believe the course also helps to provide the missing link between finishing college and being site ready. To help level up their skills with the experience, confidence and professionalism needed to make an immediate impact on site, we work closely with our college partners to encourage those that are looking at going into the industry to complete the six-week course after graduating from college. Who the course suits best The course has been designed for people who have had prior experience of plastering and who already have basic trowel skills. It is also there to help and support individuals who have completed a two- or three-year plastering course at college and get them site ready by bridging the gap between education and industry. To ensure that those joining the six-week site ready skimming course have the required level of skill, all trainees will go through a practical assessment before being accepted, so it isn’t a suitable course for complete beginners. Subcontractors can use this course to upskill their employees in a short period of time – having confidence that this all-encompassing course will have a considerable impact on their employees. In addition, individuals can also access the course on their own, without being already employed; all that matters is that they have basic trowel skills. Course entails and duration The six-week course covers the practical training in the key skills required for skimming plasterboard. This means, those on the course will learn how to: • finish internal angles; • work to wet angles; • the application and finishing of angle beads to external corners and around openings; • working on splayed angles; and • working around services in both flat and window walls. It is important to stretch students by preparing them for roles within the industry and they must also learn to work to deadlines, therefore plastering large areas to represent commercial projects is a key area covered. The course also covers the correct use of the latest plastering tools and methods as well as identifying bad practice, which is more vital than ever before. At the end of the course, all participants will complete a comprehensive final assessment to test all the skills they have developed over the six-week period, and they must demonstrate they are able to produce a volume of finished work in one day. How the course contributes to the qualified workforce In response to the ever-present urgent need for skilled workers, the course focuses on training students to the highest standard in a timely fashion. We help develop their physical trade skills and also their confidence and required professionalism to enable a pro- active impact on site from the very beginning. By supporting individuals, we are also supporting contracting businesses in the sector to source skilled employees who are ready and willing to work. Some 90 percent of those who have completed the course have now gone on to work in the industry*. Case study One example of how the course is supporting sub-contractors is in its endorsement by Taylor Hart. Managing Director, Phil Lewis, had his reservations initially on the course – wanting to understand who it was best suited to and how it could support his business. However, after he attended one of our academies he was impressed and offered two members of the cohort trial employment. Both recruits are now working in industry, putting everything they learnt on the course to good use. Ongoing support Completing the course gives students direct access to our resident plasterers if they need to discuss any issues they are having on site with skimming plasterboards. We also ensure every attendee has a new tool kit, as part of the course package, and this is provided at the beginning so skills can be developedwith the range of tools which are used in skimming plasterboard. Course attendees take the set of tools away with them so they can start work on site straight away. No cost The course is free of charge. The only associated cost is the labour commitment of your member of staff, as they work away from site for six weeks. However, many contractors and employers have said their projects have benefitted immediately from this time investment. Qualifications Attendees that pass the course will be awarded with a NOCN CSkills Awards Level 2 Certificate Plaster Skimmer qualification and a practical assessment certificate on completion. For any training providers who sign trainees up with National Open College Network (NOCN), trainees will receive another additional certificate for NOCNCSkills Awards Level 2 Certificate in Plaster Skimming. Venues The course can be completed currently at four locations via British Gypsum’s training partners, these are North West Skills Academy in Heywood, Train4All Construction Academy in Somerton, Silver Trowel in Hampshire and City of Wolverhampton College in Wolverhampton. Gareth Dunn, Service Innovation Director, British Gypsum *157 students have completed the SRSC to date and 142 of those have gone on to work in the industry.