“Output has increased for two months in a row and momentum is increasing. June’s 23.5% surge was triple the 7.6% growth seen in May… The recovery is still young and fragile, but so far it is taking the hoped-for V-shape.”

Gareth Belsham, Naismiths. Construction Enquirer, June 2020

The wider economic outlook is grim for the UK, that's been extensively reported. The OECD has forecast that the UK’s national income will slump by 11.5 per cent this year, greater than that of France, Italy, Spain and Germany. Brexit will also have an impact on the economy, but that’s another potential issue.

However in spite of all the negative predictions, the trades sector has much potential as it represents the spearhead by which government investment generates growth. These measures will seek to boost the economy in a manner not seen since the end of the Second World War.

“History shows the construction industry is the tried and tested means of driving economic recovery, just as it did after the Second World War”

Paul Gandy, managing director of Interserve Construction, Construction News 3rd July 2020

An article in Construction News in July of this year, written by Paul Gandy, managing director of Interserve Construction, highlighted the positives that could then filter down through all areas of the industry. He highlighted that jobs would be secured and created across manufacturing, architecture, planning, engineering, distribution and construction, plus many other indirectly related jobs.

He also goes on to state that the construction industry as a whole provides people with new jobs quickly and the money that is invested gives a speedy return. With the government now looking to prioritise their spending they could do no better than to provide people with a level of funding needed to create these new skilled jobs in the trades.

“If the government prioritises job creation, skills and infrastructure spending – as the prime minister has pledged – the industry could be well placed to bounce back quickly following an extremely challenging period.”

Paul Gandy also made it clear how valuable the sector is to the UK economy as a whole: 

“In 2018, the economic output of the construction sector, according to the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), was worth £413bn, equivalent to 8.6 per cent of GDP. This is nearly four times the combined annual output of the aerospace and automotive industries.”

The construction sector itself is huge with over 900,000 sole traders amongst the 3,000,000 people who are directly or indirectly working in the industry - There are also just under 1,000,000 people that are regarded as self-employed.

There is still a long way to go to ensure that these prospects are fulfilled and we have some way to go before we reach a full and sustained recovery. Demand for construction projects will continue to increase, although nobody knows exactly when this will happen, as Ragene Raithata, a senior associate in the construction and infrastructure practice at DWF Group, importantly reminds us: 

“In a post-pandemic world there will still be a requirement for more homes, urban regeneration, improved infrastructure, improved offices, retail space and more distribution facilities. We all know from past downturns that a robust construction sector will emerge but how and when, we just do not know.”

Homes will always need building, infrastructure will always need developing, modernising, adapting – and we will need it now more than ever before. When things do return to normal, Britain needs the workforce to contribute to its road to recovery, to fulfill its prophecy of re-growth. We need to create our own masterplan for revival to see us out the other end – but most importantly, we need skilled tradespeople who are able to get the job done.

It is no overstatement to predict that the construction industry will provide the means of rebuilding our country: physically, economically, and mentally. And who knows? The next decade might see the UK economy becoming dependent on the continued growth of the construction industry. 

Whatever happens, we’ll need skilled tradespeople to get the job done – and you could be one of them.

Enquire for a course today

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen.

Work is running dry in some sectors, but the UK's trade skills shortage could be your opportunity to bounce back.

A striking headline in the 19th July edition of The Sunday Times reads: "Work's running dry as 484 people apply for two precious pub vacancies".

This is followed by another startling stat: "£9-an-hour post triggers a stampede of highly qualified applicants".

But the numbers aren't the only noteworthy part of this story. Just as remarkable were the types of applicants one bar owner was hearing from before he pulled his job advert after only five days.

The Sunday Times article reported that former air stewards, restaurant managers and experienced shop workers - all recently made redundant - were among the hundreds of applicants, whereas normally pub and restaurant owners would expect to receive a dozen or so replies from youngsters with limited experience.

Up and down the country, the story is the same: employers are reporting a stampede of applications for entry-level roles that they would normally struggle to fill. One manager said:

"The quality of people looking for work right now is as good as it ever has been. Unfortunately it's because of the situation people have found themselves in."

Worringly, this could just be the tip of the iceberg - the government's furlough scheme may be giving many workers a false sense of normality right now, but according to some reports, a larger wave of unemployment could hit the UK very soon.

But ask yourself: do you need to take a backward step if this happens to you? Or could this be your opportunity to train for a different career - something you'll find truly rewarding?

Learn new career skills with Access Training Academies

Losing your job can be a scarring experience, but before you join the throng of people currently applying for entry-level work in bars and pubs, ask yourself: wouldn't it be more fulfilling to retrain and join an industry that's currently crying out for new workers?

In all likelihood, you've amassed considerable transferable life skills over the years, so why not make the change and become a professional tradesperson? Most think it's a bridge too far - that it's somehow beyond them, an unknown area of employment - but others see the opportunity in front of them and never look back.

The decision to change career is already being forced on many people. Will you seize the moment, discover your entrepreneurial spirit, use your life experience to your advantage, and start something new and rewarding?

"I did a course with these guys [Access Training Academies]...since I passed last year, I decided to go on my own. The phone hasn't stopped ringing since, and I'm at the point now where I have employed two extra guys."

- James Mummery, Professional Electrical Course

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen.

Contact Access Training   Browse Our Courses

Photo from Pixabay

Here at Access Training, we have traditionally provided our students with courses aimed at providing the required skills, knowledge and qualifications to succeed in a number 'trade' industries such as Plumbing, Gas Engineering, Carpentry etc. However, we are continuously striving to provide the best possible training courses we can, that reflect the current market and demand of our students. With that, we are proud to announce the introduction of IT Training Programmes, here at Access Training! 

Browse IT Training > 

With the world moving at a very fast pace into a 'digital' era, the need and demand for talented individuals in the IT sector continues to grow, something that we at Access Training have recognised and want to help with. As a result, we now offer a variety of IT training programmes across a number of different sectors in the IT industry - find out a little about each of these courses below!

IT Training Programmes

• Infrastructure Engineer - This is a very hands-on, demanding course where students will be required to manage an organisation's entire IT infrastructure. 
• Network Engineer - This course is centred all around problem-solving and analytical skills, where you will learn to identify and solve issues with IT networks.
• Cyber Security - This programme will teach you the essential abilities and knowledge needed to combat cyber attacks and online threats.

Our IT training programmes cover a wide range of areas within the IT industry, so no matter where your ambition or talents lay, we are sure you'll find the training course for you! So, whether you're looking to start a new career in the IT industry, or are hoping to gain recognised qualifications from reputable accreditors, our IT programmes are for you - Simply click above to learn more about each of our IT programmes and enquire today!

For further information regarding our training courses or if you would like to contact us to discuss anything else, please call us today on 0800 345 7492 or email us at info@accesstraininguk.co.uk. 

Choosing to change careers is ultimately YOUR decision. But if you're unsure, you should spend some time evaluating your current situation in order to establish whether or not a career move is the right step to take.

Are you happy in your current job?

Perhaps you're considering a career change because you're feeling unhappy in your current job. If that's the case, ensure you aren't making a drastic decision based on one bad day at work, or a temporary problem that will likely be resolved before long. Take some time to write down exactly what it is about your current situation that is making you unhappy.

Having the negatives of your current job written down in front of you will help you to get a handle on how you really feel. As a bonus, you'll also have a list of attributes to steer clear of when searching for your new career!

Are you moving sideways? Or looking for a whole new career?

Before you go any further, ask yourself whether you're craving a mere change of scenery, or a new line of work entirely. If you have lots of experience in your current industry, you might be tempted to take the easy route and simply 'move sideways' - that is, get a similar job with a different employer, perhaps in a different city or a less familiar working environment.

This is fine if you're simply sick of your current manager or looking for a larger salary, but if you're genuinely dissatisfied with your current career, you shouldn't be afraid to try something completely new. Either way, make sure you know what sort of change you're after before you go after it.

Brainstorm some ideas

If a complete career change does seem like the right choice for you, the next step is to decide which new career you'd like to pursue. You've already prepared a list of things you dislike about your current profession - now you need to think about what positives you're looking for in your work.

A good way of doing this is to explore your current interests. If you pursue a profession that's relevant to your own passions, then the difficulties that always come with starting a new job will feel a little less daunting.

If you have no idea what you'd like to do next, why not speak to your family and friends - or even a professional career adviser - to establish where your strengths lie, what your core values are, and which line of work they would suit best.

Do you need any new qualifications / education?

Once you know roughly what type of career you'd like to pursue, you may find that you need some new skills and/or qualifications before you can proceed.

It's likely - if you're completely changing careers - that your current CV won't carry all that much weight in your new industry. So look for classes, college courses, and work experience opportunities that will serve as an introduction to your new profession and give you the tools you'll need to forge a new career path.

Here at Access Training, we offer career change course packages with no prior experience required. Select a training option to find out more:

Electrician Courses   Plumbing Courses   Gas Courses

Read our reviews to find out what past learners have said about their Access Training courses!

Leaving your comfort zone behind and training for a new career can a very intimidating prospect, but if you've grown weary of your current role, it may be the best decision you ever make.

Here at Access Training, we specialise in career change courses for people who wish to learn a trade (such as plumbing or plastering) and make a living out of it. Our courses are designed for individuals with absolutely no experience or knowledge of their chosen trade, so even if you've never so much as changed a fuse or unblocked a sink, you can become a fully-qualified electrician or plumber within a surprisingly short period of time.

Here's a quick overview of what to expect when you train for a new career with Access Training Academies:

Industry-recognised qualifications

The key to starting a successful new career in any trade is gaining the qualifications that will mark you out as a qualified member of that particular field. Gas engineers, for instance, must undergo an ACS assessment and join the Gas Safe Register before they can start earning money.

The new career courses we deliver here at Access Training are specifically structured to get you the qualifications you'll need to succeed in your new role. Instead of researching which certificates and accreditations you need to seek out, you can simply pick a course package - like, for instance, our Professional Gas Engineer Course - and begin your training, secure in the knowledge that we've covered all the essentials.

Help from experienced tutors

All of our course leaders are qualified tradespeople with years of commercial experience in their respective fields. This means that they are perfectly placed to provide all the assistance and instruction you could possibly require.

Furthermore, we aim to keep our class sizes as small as possible, so you can rest assured that you'll have plenty of opportunities to talk things out with your tutor as you progress through your chosen training course.

Intensive training programmes

Our career change courses are designed to get you qualified as quickly as possible. Instead of signing up for an apprenticeship and waiting several years to become a fully-fledged tradesperson, you can get trained up in a matter of months and start your exciting new career right away. This is a great choice if you can't afford to take a loss of income as you transition from one career path to another.

Learn from the ground up

As mentioned above, our courses cover everything a professional tradesperson needs to know. Don't worry if you don't know the first thing about electricity - we'll start from the absolute basics and work up from there, ensuring that you get plenty of support as you learn.

Our new career courses comprise a finely-tuned combination of theory and practical work. We'll make sure you know everything you need to know about your new trade, but we'll also ensure that you leave with plenty of hands-on experience so that you're completely confident when you show up for that first paid job.

Ready to train for a new career? To find out more about our career change courses, contact Access Training today or choose from the options listed below.

New Career Training Courses:

• Electrician Courses
• Plumbing Courses
• Gas Engineer Courses
• Plastering Courses

So you're sick of your current job and you want to make a change as soon as possible. You could simply apply for a role elsewhere, of course, but what if it's not your present employer or workplace that you have a problem with? What if you're looking to switch to a different line of work entirely?

If that's the case, you'll often have to retrain and you can have the opportunity to do so by looking into our intensive trade courses. As we explained in our last blog post, What Are the Best Careers to Retrain For?, learning a new skill and becoming a professional tradesperson is a great career change option, but is it the right choice when you're specifically looking to make a QUICK career change? In other words...

Is it possible to become a qualified tradesperson in a short space of time?

The 'traditional' training route for plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople is unfortunately rather time-consuming. An apprenticeship takes several years to complete, meaning that you'll be stuck at the training stage for quite a while before starting your new career proper.

Fortunately, there are faster ways to get qualified. A good intensive / fast-track training course will cover everything you need to know (including all relevant theory knowledge as well as the practical skills you'll be using on the job) in a matter of months rather than years, making this a far better option when time is of the essence.

Of course, successfully completing a fast-track trade course requires a lot of hard work, but your effort will pay off in a number of different ways:

• You'll be able to start your new career sooner
  
  
• You'll be learning your new trade instead of making tea for your boss (as can unfortunately be the case for apprentices)
  
  
• You'll have the opportunity to grow your skill set rapidly by taking on additional training courses if you wish

Intensive training courses from Access Training

If you're looking to get trained up and change careers ASAP, Access Training's fast-track courses are ideal for you. Contact us now to discuss your options, or click one of the following links to find out more:

• Plumbing Courses
• Gas Courses
• Electrician Courses

Photo courtesy of pexels.com

No one wants a job that makes them miserable. Feeling unfulfilled in a job can badly affect your quality of life and may lead you to consider a career change. Although a career change may sound like an incredibly daunting choice, it really doesn’t need to be that difficult! You no longer have to feel dissatisfied and stressed while earning a living, you can make the decision to retrain for your career change. To help you do this, widen your career prospects with one of our courses at Access Training.

Whether you are in a trade and would like more qualifications to progress onto more challenging work, a tradesman wanting to swap the trade you are in or are a beginner starting from scratch, Access Training has a career change course suitable for you. 

We offer a diverse range of exciting career change training courses and we want you to be able to complete qualifications that will allow you to get the most out of your new career. Browse through our extensive range of programmes below to discover your next exciting move.

Get Qualified in the Shortest Amount of Time 

All of our courses are designed to provide you with the qualifications you need within a very short timeframe; not the 2-3 years which is traditionally required when training for a new career. This means that you can start the process towards your career change as soon as possible without having to be out of work for a long period of time. We also offer courses which can fit around your current job, so that your career change has a smooth transition which provides you with the security to keep earning while you train. 

A career change can really change your life – just have a look at our testimonials and hear from our students who decided to make a change for the better. Choosing to expand your prospects is always a positive experience, so don’t be afraid to give yourself other options. Start your career change today by choosing from our career change training course options below:

Electrical Courses >

Gas Courses >

Plumbing Courses > 

IT Networking Courses > 

Cyber Security Courses >

Construction Courses > 

If you need some advice on your career change training course, or would just like to speak to one of our expert advisors about any of the courses we offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Call us on 0800 345 7492 or email info@accesstraininguk.co.uk.

The steps to retrain and start a new career aren't quite as hard as many people think, but there's always one obstacle that makes the decision much harder than it needs to be - fear. The fear of it not quite working out, the fear of what other people might think of your new career path, the fear of struggling to find (and pass) the training you require...these and many other fears are preventing people from making their dreams come true. However, these fears will only stop you if you let them, and this can be avoided with three simple steps to helping that dream career become a reality.

Play to your strengths

The various construction/trade industries all rely on different skillsets that realistically may or may not be suitable. Trades such as bricklaying or plastering place greater emphasis on physical strength and stamina, while electrical and gas engineering training require more theory knowledge and calculating skills. Knowing what you excel at is the key to making your new career a success, but be sure to also do a good amount of research into your potential new career before starting down the path. What qualifications do you need? Where can you train? What will the course entail? These are the kind of questions you should be asking, and ones that our team of course advisors would also be happy to answer for you.

Take it one step at a time

Even if you're dead-set on what you want to do with your life, the thought of rushing into a new career can still be incredibly daunting. At the same time, procrastinating can also doom something to failure before it's even gotten properly off the ground. Don't just make a website or twitter and then leave it to die; instead, wait until you're good and ready to do things like that . Take it slowly - we've already mentioned research, so move on to writing your goals down on paper. Discuss your plans with friends and family - you never know, they might have work that needs doing that you can eventually take on or even have some handy contacts in the industry. Come to one of our training centres, have a look around, and discuss your needs with our course advisors. Then, when you feel ready, you can book the date for your training course and have plenty of time to prepare yourself.

Prepare a safety net

While we by no means think failure is a likely thing (in fact, we're confident it'll be quite the opposite), it would be wrong of you to not prepare for the worst just as a precautionary measure. Make sure you have an idea of where you could turn for a job should your new career not turn out the way you expect, and then once that's written down, keep it safe and you need never think about it again unless it comes up. It's also good to be sure you have ample finances to keep yourself afloat while you're training. If you're currently employed you might want to hold onto that job for as long as possible while you retrain. This is why we've made our courses flexible - so that you can train when you have the time.

That should get some of the fear out of the way! Now, here are some very real facts that demonstrate why now is the time to start a new career as a professional plumber, electrician, gas engineer or construction worker. The UK is always short of professional tradespeople to perform all kinds of domestic installations and fixings, and with new housebuilding on the rise that shortage is only going to increase. There simply aren't enough bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters and tilers around to help set the houses up, and even when there are, where are the electricians, plumbers and decorators who are able to turn that house into a home?

Construction/trade careers are cited among the happiest around, offering the right level of challenge to match the skills required. The hours and pay rate are enviable too, especially if you choose to go self-employed!

Still, there's no wrong time to start a new career. These trades aren't just a young man's game, nor are they something best suited only to older people; if you've got the drive and dedication to earn your qualifications and make the dream come true, then you're exactly what employers are looking for.

To find out more about what's on offer here at Access Training, give us a call on 0800 345 7492. Keep your end goal in sight, and then not even fear will be able to stop you.

The staff at Access Training would like to wish everyone a happy new year and once again offer our thanks for choosing Access Training Academies as your training provider.

2014 is already shaping up to be a good year with real signs for economic growth in the construction industry that will surely stretch across all trades. Construction growth in the UK continued through to the end of 2013, with more anticipated for 2014. We've previously reported that a construction boom is expected by leading economists over the next few years, and while this is specifically geared toward general construction such as bricklaying and carpentry all trades will inevitably benefit. Think about this scenario - as more houses are built across the UK, who's going to be the one to install electrical wiring and pipework throughout them? This really is a boom all trades can look forward to.

But while the renewables sector may see a slight increase over this year, as it stands now measures such as the Green Deal are still a long way off achieving the success that is expected of them. Speaking to our plumbing tutors, they've suggested that the government needs to promote far more awareness about the numerous green options that are available to them and just how they can save them money. One example they provided was that many people are unaware that feed-in-tariffs are available on many different forms of renewable energy and not just simply solar PV panels. Whatever the scale though, one thing is certainly for sure - renewable energy is on the rise and now is the time for installers to get in on it and beat their competitors to the punch.

It's a brand new year, and therefore the perfect time for a brand new chapter in your life. Bored with your current job? Tired of working behind a desk and want to do something more physical, challenging and exciting? An Access Training course is only the start. At our state-of-the-art training centre we offer intensive courses in plumbing, electric, gas engineering, plastering, tiling, bricklaying, carpentry and painting & decorating. Each and every one of these will not only provide you with professional skills and qualifications that could take years to build up elsewhere, but are staffed by highly experienced tutors so you can be certain that none of the quality is skimped.

To find out more about our range of courses and to book your place, get in contact with one of our advisers by calling 0800 345 7492 or filling in the information form found on this website.

As we draw to the end of 2013 and all look forward to Christmas and the New Year, the staff at Access Training Academies would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holidays and a big thank you for all the support you've given us over the year. Access Training has continued to grow and provide the best trades training courses we possibly can. Look forward to more changes to our plumbing, electrician, gas and construction courses next year to make them even better, and we'll look forward to having you come and train with us.

Student training will resume on the 6th January, but in the meantime we have already started booking places for courses in 2014. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a handyman and would like to take it to the next step and become a professional tradesman, take the time to browse our website and have a look at the courses we offer.You can also get more information by calling 0800 345 7492 or alternatively filling in the information form found to the side of the page. Your details will be passed on to one of our professional course advisers who will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

It's a brand new year, and the perfect time for a brand new career.