News
WANTED: Jobs for the boys
With the public sector looking media about £80,000 salaries for plumbers,
comparably buoyant against the there has only been intermittent flirtation
commercial sector, Jim Parker, managing with trade qualifications and
director of ISG Retail and Leisure, argues apprenticeships.
that now is a prime opportunity for the The big contractors are now getting
Government to really make a difference bigger and industry acquisitions have
and address the home grown skills trebled in the last 12 months to meet the
shortage by establishing a basic training demands of the clients, such as the
requirement and imposing it on its supply Government, who require muscle power
chain. on bigger jobs. However the calibre of the
It seems hard to believe that a staff is not necessarily rising with the size
generation ago local authorities were of the projects because training falls as
known to provide the best arena for part of the shortfall.
training and apprenticeships. Twenty years Earlier this year, the Government
ago, the Government invested a significant published a strategy for the future of
Jim Parker
amount of money into training and the apprenticeships in England and in February
most sought after apprenticeships could the first National Apprentice Week was investment in our
be found in various government launched. These are positive flags to national skills
departments such as water, gas and brandish but we need tougher measures shortage.
electricity. However, lack of funding in the to drive suggested policy. Actions speak If investment
early 90s heralded the demise of the louder than words and with contractors in basic training
infrastructure of training by opening the eyeing up the juicy contracts, such as and apprentices
doors to outsourcing. Building Schools For The Future, there is isn’t imposed
A cultural shift occurred to coincide an opportunity to demand so much more. upon the supply
with the brave new world of self- Local Government can lay pressure on chain, the supply chain will eventually
employment and start-up enterprises and the contractors and request evidence of deplete and we will end up paying an even
university and higher education became apprentices on jobs given. It would then be higher premium for these skills. With the
the regular option rather than the in the contractors’ best interest to ensure focus fixed firmly on the environment, we
exceptional choice. In the space of ten that the supply chain is able to may well have our greener future, we just
years, young apprentices had become an demonstrate a requisite number of won’t necessarily have our younger
endangered species. apprentices. It has become a moral issue. workers to carry out the maintenance
Over the years, despite great talk in the Quite simply, there has been no great works. www.isgplc.com
Simple warranty in 1st woman MD
the transfer market in the sector
Rachel Houghton has
Having shaken up the world of installation. Should they then move on, the been appointed Managing
structured cabling last year when it warranty cannot be transferred and the Director of Business Moves
became the first network infrastructure new owners must have the system Group, which some sources
specialist to announce that all its completely re-audited before a new one recognise as Britain’s 3rd
installation would be audited by an can be issued. This can lead to delays and largest business relocation
independent third party, LS Simple has additional expense for both parties. company.
now revealed revolutionary plans to allow But LS Simple has once again decided In this male dominated
its warranties to be transferred with a to turn the market on its head with another environment Rachel
building’s ownership. industry first. Confident that their systems believes that although her
Historically, the 20 year warranty on will work for 20 years – or longer – they style of leadership varies to
structured cabling networks only applies to are now allowing their warranties to be bring out the best in people
Rachel Houghton
the company that originally paid for the sold on when a building changes hands. she is sure her approach to
Paul Eo, regional manager leadership will add value to the service
Europe for LS Simple, explains: BMG provides its clients.
“Having to complete a system Rachel began with the BMG
re-audit, whether it’s near the Birmingham office 10 years ago in
end of its warranty or at the telesales and progressed through the
start, is a hassle that most data company in various sales, operation and
centre managers could do branch management roles. She has been
without. That’s why we’ve involved with the strategic direction of the
changed the way we do things. company for more than five years as a
When we give out a warranty member of the management team and
we stand by it - it’s a two years ago, was appointed Commercial
commitment that we will always Director. Her promotion to Managing
honour, no matter who owns the Director is due to her proven strengths in
building.” www.lscable.com strategic planning, sales and general
management experience. 0845 0505057.
www.onlinebfm.co.uk news 5
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