The Awards are run on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills by UK Skills, a not-for-profit organisation which champions vocational skills and learning for work.

UK Skills chief executive, Jacqui Henderson CBE, congratulated the finalists, saying they displayed qualities of entrepreneurship that UK plc could learn from.
 
“Each finalist has considered where they want to be in the future. They’ve taken a well-calculated risk to invest in specific training aimed at moving them on to a better position than they were in before, either as an organisation or an individual. This has brought them opportunities and substantial returns.”

Dan Green, business development coordinator for Kier Building Maintenance (KBM) told B&E online that KBM’s First Start training programme was encouraging people who traditionally wouldn’t get involved in the building industry.

He said: “We’re delighted to have been shortlisted. This is one of the big steps we are taking to reduce the short fall in people entering the construction industry, particularly from under represented backgrounds like black and ethnic minorities and women. They are areas we are really targeting hard when we advertise the scheme at community centres.”
 
For more information on the awards visit www.nationaltrainingawards.com.
 
B&E will discuss recruitment and training in greater detail in October’s issue when we revisit the role of women in construction. 

Subscribe for free now!