Training for the construction industry

A saying throughout all skilled trades within the construction industry is ‘measure twice, cut once’

By Lorraine Tomlinson, managing director, John Laing Training

A saying throughout all skilled trades within the construction industry is ‘measure twice, cut once’. This summarises how important it is to pay attention to detail, to prepare thoroughly, and how one simple mistake could be costly. This is just one similarity between construction trades and the Armed Forces.

Historically construction has been belittled as career and perceived as a job option for school failures. This attitude, coupled with the drive to achieve higher education admissions, has led to a dramatic deficit in the number of skilled people in construction across the UK. An extra 88,000 plumbers, builders and decorators are required every year over the next five years to complete scheduled projects. Although tradesmen are often undervalued, the demand for their skills has led to them being able to command increasingly high salaries, often greater than their contemporaries in white-collar professions.

The industry is particularly keen to recruit and train people leaving the Forces as it recognises what they have to offer, and understands what the sector can offer in return. It may be hard to imagine life on a building site after years stationed at different bases around the world – however, it may not be a radical departure from the Service working life.

First, just like the Services, construction is a disciplined environment. While there is no drill or any of the other rigours associated with Service life, a new employer will have high expectation levels. An agreed level of output will be expected, as will an awareness of health and safety well above that expected in an office environment. Just as there are health and safety responsibilities in the military, health and safety tests must be passed before working on-site.

Construction work is very much task-focused, calling for the worker to overcome challenges both as an individual and as part of a team. Working out how to build a multi-storey timber frame development, for example, requires similar levels of problem solving and the ability to overcome difficulties as carrying out an airlift in a remote village.

Many Service leavers do not want an office job, and opting for a career in construction means they are likely to find an environment that suits them. Like the Armed Forces, the construction industry also relies on people trained in a range of disciplines. Like the public perception that all airmen and women fly planes, the word construction is synonymous with bricklaying. In reality, the Forces have a range of different jobs and so does the construction industry, with a huge variety of jobs open to the new entrant.

The construction industry is committed to training, and so you will probably have to undertake this in some shape or form. It also recognises that ex-Service people bring with them a vast array of general skills, which always prove invaluable – like the high level of personal fitness required to stay on their feet and think all day (and sometimes also all night). On a site, physical fitness is necessary to carry out everyday tasks such as lifting and moving building materials. But stamina is also needed to sustain this activity for the average eight-hour working day.

Many practical skills make former Armed Forces people ideal candidates for a successful career in construction. Many of the roles require a high level of dexterity and hand–eye coordination. They need a logical mind and, contrary to popular belief, a basic level of numeracy and literacy.

These personal qualities can often help former Service people to be fast-tracked through training as there are elements in training courses in which they are already competent or even proficient. While many industries may favour younger employees over more mature individuals, the construction sector acknowledges that that those who have served in the Armed Forces have a lot to offer. And, with appropriate training, finding employment is rarely an issue.

Forces people are trained in many trades and the Forces invest enormously in vocational training. However, further training will almost certainly be needed to take them to their next level of their trade. For example, an electrician who already has extensive knowledge and skills can have their training tailored to working on a residential development for a house builder. Similarly, a finisher who has painted vehicles can learn the skills required to paint the interior of a luxury penthouse. It is also possible to undertake multi-skills training, providing a basic knowledge of a number of skills.

Qualifications include NVQs at Level 1 or 2, and/or the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, which shows a level of competence in a particular employment as well as health and safety awareness. Most importantly, new entrants can combine training with working, so they earn while they are learning.

For more information on John Laing Training, Tel: 0800 358 0357, e-mail info@jlaingtraining.co.uk or visit the website at www.jlaingtraining.co.uk