Three of the UK’s preeminent building contractors have taken steps to potentially introduce flexible working hours, in a move that could revolutionise the industry.

Bam Nuttall, Skanska and Willmott Dixon are said to be investigating the viability of flexitime on construction sites, enlisting the aid of flexible working specialist, Timewise, in their trial as they aim to overcome the industry's challenging working patterns.

A Flexible Approach

Tasked with helping the contractors research, plan and pilot the new flexible approach, Timewise, will study the working practices currently in place and then develop a flexible programme to be piloted across a set number of sites.

The results of the trial will then be evaluated and made public, with the potential to influence the wider construction industry nationwide as a result.

A Wise Move

Principal consultant at Timewise, Pernille Solvik, had this to say on the matter:

“The culture of long hours is having a negative impact on both men and women in the industry, affecting their mental health and their ability to balance work with caring and family life.

“There is an urgent need to design more flexible roles and career pathways within construction, to deliver better work-life balance and build a more diverse, healthier workforce.

“Our hope is that it will be the beginning; the beginning of a change within construction towards a better work-life balance for all.”

A Healthy Solution

The move comes just weeks after the new ISO 45001 business standard began making headlines for its potential to improve health and well-being in the construction industry.

With such radical steps being taking by trendsetters such as Bam, Skanska and Willmott Dixon, it looks as though the construction industry could be on its way to a healthier solution for all.

Construction Courses at Access Training UK

With a healthier outlook on the horizon for life as a site worker, a career in the construction industry poses an attractive proposition.

If you’re considering a career change and a construction career sounds like it could be up your street, why not sign up for a construction course with Access Training UK?

We currently offer a wide array of construction courses for both those looking to enter the trade and those looking to enhance their existing skills.

From DIY carpentry courses for complete novices to NVQ Level 2 Certification for experienced site plasterers, we have the course to help you get where you want to be professionally.

To find out more about these construction courses or any other courses available at Access Training UK, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 345 7492 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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A new 2019 business standard is set to improve the health and well-being of construction workers across the United Kingdom.

The new ISO 45001 accreditation has been introduced to provide a framework for success in any organization from any sector, including construction.

Health in the Workplace

The new international standard in Occupational Health and Safety Management aims to improve the mental and physical health in the workplace and presents a big step forward for construction companies in the UK.

Work-related stress and illness affects all industries, including construction, while the physical nature of site work also presents a myriad of additional dangers for those that work within the construction trade.

ISO 45001

The new ISO 45001 standard lays a clear-cut blueprint for construction companies to follow and allows organisations to easily formulate a successful health and safety management system.

With a strong onus on risk-based thinking and proactive leadership, the new business standard promotes risk assessment, hazard identification and emergency preparation, allowing companies to fully comprehend potential dangers and how to handle them.

Through this health-conscious business model, construction companies can help ensure a safer environment for their workers, boosting worker morale and making the construction industry all the more appealing to those looking to enter manual labour and/or learn a physical trade.

Constructing Courses at Access Training UK

With safer work conditions and a greater emphasis on worker health and morale, the change poses good news for construction workers and anyone considering the construction trade as a career.

At Access Training UK, we offer a wide variety of construction courses for those looking to enter the trade. These range from DIY carpentry and plastering courses for complete novices, all the way up to NVQ Level 2 carpentry and plastering courses for experienced pros (and everything in between).

Whether you’re a newcomer looking to shift gears with a new career path or a seasoned veteran looking to add to your repertoire of skills, we can help you achieve your dreams at Access Training UK.

For more information on Access Training construction courses at Access Training UK, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 345 7492 or get in touch online by clicking the link below.

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After two years of research, the Chartered Institute of Building has released its newly published Code of Quality Management in response to a number of high-profile construction incidents.

Aimed at improving the overall quality of construction across the UK, the Guide to Best Practice Construction Quality Management provides industry professionals with a single resource to help them achieve a higher, safer standard of work.

Construction Quality

A renewed focus was placed on the construction industry in February 2017 following the closing of 17 schools in Edinburgh. Just months later, the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower fire raised the profile of this issue even further.

These events ultimately led to the creation of the Construction Quality Commission, made up of former CIOB presidents. Over the course of two years, the CQC created the Code of Quality Management, which was made public this week.

High Standards

Following the Grenfell Tower incident, the resulting Hackitt report highlighted that “the system does not facilitate good practise” and that “there is insufficient focus on delivering the best quality building possible”.

The CIOB aims to act as a moral compass for the construction industry, promoting pride in work and quality output, and hopes that the new code will help industry professionals to maintain high standards across the board.

The result should be an increase in quality and an overall safer output of work from construction jobs going forward.

High Standards

The new code of conduct for industry professionals should help raise the bar for those in the construction industry and really contribute to building work across the UK.

At Access Training UK, we’re also committed to providing would-be construction workers with the tools and knowledge to help them strive within the industry.

If you’re interested in entering the construction industry and learning a valuable trade the right way, why not do so with Access Training UK?

Constructing Professionals

Here at Access Training UK., we offer a variety of construction courses, ranging from carpentry courses and NVQs to kitchen fitting and plastering.

With a whole host of construction courses for all skill levels, we can help you go from complete novice with no prior experience to fully-trained, skilled professional in no time at all.

Meanwhile, we can also help existing pros hone their skills further and build on their current knowledge to become a more well-rounded professional.

Whether you’re a newbie with a dream or an old dog looking to learn some new tricks, we can help you achieve your construction goals at Access Training UK.

For more information on construction courses with Access Training UK, why not drop us a line and talk with one of our advisors? Call now on 0800 345 7492 or drop us an email using the button below.

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While many people are panic-buying coffee, baked beans and various other post-Brexit goods, a (semi) silver lining is starting to emerge.

As it stands, the average salary for a construction worker is sitting at roughly £45,900, for a site manager, £50,500, and for a senior site manager £62,900! Amazingly, some construction workers are commanding wages not dissimilar to our MPs. Back in 2017, the average salary for a construction worker was considerably less, at only £42,300. 

That's incredible news for the lucky individuals working in these construction roles, but the reason their wages are so high leaves much to be desired for the British economy.

Why Have Construction Wages Gone Up?

The uncertainty around Brexit is (unsurprisingly) causing workers from overseas to lose confidence in Britain and the job prospects it can offer. As expected, they're beginning to seek work elsewhere in the world.  On top of that, many foreign nationals who have been living and working here for years are getting cold feet and seriously considering packing up and leaving (if they haven't done so already).

Whether this will have a positive impact on the construction workforce long-term is yet to be seen, but the initial impact has been somewhat fruitful for those that remain. 

The Construction Worker Commodity

Nearly 1/3 of construction workers in London are originally from Europe. As Brexit takes its toll, our pool of EU construction workers is starting to evaporate, leaving the remaining workers to fulfil demand. As with any commodity, be it gold or grain, it becomes more valuable as it goes down in number - construction workers are no exception!

So, as the number of construction workers in the UK goes down, the demand for skilled workers goes up and suddenly, being good at your job makes you considerably more valuable than you may have been a few years ago! 

The downside of all this? Brexit is putting extra strain on manufacturers who are unable to progress with business as usual until Brexit has blown over. 

Time to Train

If you've been thinking about learning a trade or working in the construction industry, it seems as though there's never been a better time to start! Not only can you benefit from steadily increasing salary prospects, but you can also help keep Britain's construction industry afloat in this time of turmoil! 

Here at Access Training Academies, we offer avenues into a huge range of construction industries, including but not limited to:

• Carpentry
• Plastering
• Kitchen Fitting
• Plumbing

And more! If none of these courses takes your fancy, there's plenty more for you to choose from. If you're interested in starting a new career in a professional trade, then give us a call on 0800 345 7492 now!

Following Chancellor Philip Hammond's new budget, the construction industry is speculating on how its announcements could affect jobs and opportunities here in Britain. The budget gives insight into the government's vision of Britain for the coming years, as well as their predictions for the economy.

Following a few tough years for the construction industry, we waited with baited breath to hear the plans, and it looks like it may be good news. Here is a closer look at how the some of the announcements from the budget will help the construction industry:

Help for first-time buyers

The abolition of stamp duty is great news for first-time buyers buying a property that is worth less than £500,000. This means that first-time buyers will save an average of £1,660 when purchasing homes between £300,000 and £500,000.

This is sure to encourage more people to buy property, as 80% of people buying their first home will now not have to pay the highly-criticised stamp duty that buyers were previously subjected to.

The need for new homes

The government is aiming to build 300,000 new homes a year - numbers that have not been seen since 1970. With the decision to buy new land for the purpose of creating more homes, there will be far more opportunity for those trying to purchase a property.

The government will also create 5 new 'garden towns'.

How will this affect the construction industry?

Where there are new homes, there are new jobs for construction workers. With Britain looking to expand its homebuilding industry, there has never been a better time to learn a trade. The ongoing UK skills shortage has given carpenters, plasterers, tilers and various other tradespeople the opportunity to find plenty of work for decent pay.

The 2017 Autumn Budget is encouraging when considering the job opportunities for those in the construction industry. Hopefully, it will also encourage more people to learn a trade skill which will, in turn, help the skills shortage.

If you would like to take advantage of the skills shortage and join this growing industry, you should look at the trade training courses we offer here at Access Training. We help get you qualified and working in the shortest possible timeframe. Go to our homepage to see what we offer, or contact us today to discuss your options.

Why have construction industry wages risen so much?

If you caught our blog post yesterday you'd have seen that Britain's capital has quite a few construction projects in mind, and so skilled bricklayers are needed more than ever to keep up with the schedule. So much in fact, that wages are approaching an all-time high.

With wage inflation rates currently running as high as 10% thanks to skill shortages, bricklayers are are currently earning around £170 per day. However specialists are expecting this to rise to a staggering £200 a day!

Carpenters are another trade currently enjoying similar pay rates, with plasterers also cited as being in high demand.

These are big plans for London rennovation, and qualified constuction workers in the area won't only be finding themselves with plenty of work available - they'll also be able to enjoy these incredible pay rates. If you require the right qualifications to work onsite or want to retrain to work in the construction trade, Access Training Academies are here to help. With our intensive bricklaying, carpentry, plastering, tiling, plumbing, electric, gas and decorating training courses, you'll be able to quickly and effectively learn the skills you need from veteran tradesmen with years' of experience in the business.

Take advantage of the amazing construction opportunities available and give us a call on 0800 345 7492 today.

Via Construction Enquirer

We're well over the halfway point of 2014 and even now the construction industry's huge growth spurt still shows no signs of slowing down. There have been so many pieces of news coming out lately that doing a blog post for every one of them would have taken ages! So here we've put together some of the latest headlines to have hit trade and construction news websites to show why it is a better time than ever for Britons to consider a career in the construction industry;

• July has seen the sharpest growth in housing construction since November 2003.
• Construction buyers are reporting the highest rate of construction job creation since surveys began back in 1997.
• London mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled that London's investment in infrastructure will need to reach nearly £1.3 TRILLION by 2050 in order to cope with the capital's growing population.
• Work is set to start on a £90 million rennovation project to London's Covent Garden.
• Specialist construction contractors are reporting their workloads rising, and are confident of further growth ahead.
• The Construction Products Association has forecast a further 10% in growth over the next two years, contributing nearly £11 billion to the UK economy.

That's quite a few stories, all of which are pointing to the same two conclusions - construction growrth is at an all-time high, and skilled workers are going to be desperately in need to make sure this growth continues. Whether you're a school leaver or someone looking for a fresh start in a brand new job, Access Training Academies can help make that career in the construction industry happen. We specialise in all forms of construction training, including carpentry, plastering, tiling, bricklaying and painting/decorating - all of which have been specially designed to train you to the level of professional in a short and effective time frame. Along the way you'll earn the proper qualifications needed to start your new career, learning from tutors who've spent years' working in the industry. Despite the short timeframe, there's no quality skimped on our courses and you'll also have the additional benefit of learning trade secrets from those who know the ins and outs of the business.

For more information on our range of construction courses, give Access a call on 0800 345 7492 today and we'll find the perfect construction course for you.

Even if they aren't part of a trade, one of the first things people probably think about when they look at a building site is how safe it looks. Health and safety is always the top concern when it comes to building site work, and new statistics from the Health & Safe Executive show just how different things are in comparison with 40 years ago.

Their new document, titled 'Statistics on fatal injuries in the workplace in Great Britain 2014' suggests that the number of fatalities in Britain has dropped by 85% over the past 40 years, from more than 650 a year in 1974 to a record low of 133 today. The provisional data also states that there were a total of 42 fatal injuries to construction workers in the UK between 1st April 2013 and 31st March 2014, which is 9% lower than the average figure of 46.

Minister for State Health and Safety Mark Harper praised the findings, calling Britain "officially one of the safest places in Europe - and the world - to work". He also added: "While we all rightly curse false health and safety excuses, it's worth thinking how fortunate we are that we can go out to do a hard days' work, knowing our safety is being taken seriously."

HSE Chair Judith Hackitt also commented on the news, praising the Health and Safety at Work Act. "The Health and Safety at Work Act may be 40 years old but it – and our regulatory system – are world class."

Site safety may be better than ever, but construction workers looking to work onsite still now require a Green Labourers' Card to prove they are qualified to work and are familiar with the health and safety requirements. To earn this, applicants are first required to pass the Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment award. Here at Access Training we offer the City & Guilds version of this exam, which you can complete alongside your construction training or as an individual qualification. To find out more on the exam and the changes made the the Green Labourers' Card. give us a call on 0800 345 7492.

News via HVP Mag