The UK's economic recovery has 'Build, Build, Build' as its new mantra - so the future looks bright for skilled tradespeople in the construction industry.

"We will build, build, build. Build back better, build back greener, build back faster, and do that at the pace that this moment requires," said Boris Johnson as he focused on trade skills to get the country back up and running.

This is a positive message for anyone considering a long-term career in the trades. The Prime Minister has promised a massive building programme to put jobs and infrastructure at the centre of his economic growth strategy.

New skilled trade job opportunities were promised, and the Prime Minister also highlighted the need to prioritise education. He said he wanted to end the current injustice, which he called "such a waste of human talent", and announced that his new plan would create "thousands of high-paid, high-skilled jobs", acknowledging that many jobs lost since January would not come back.

That's where Access Training Academies can help you. We can give you the trade skills you'll need to be part of this new initiative.

The government's £5 billion investment program is based around infrastructure projects that are designed to stimulate the UK economy and get people working in skilled trade jobs. This new initiative will only serve to encourage ​those considering a career change to become part of one of the only sectors that's likely to move forward quickly as the country comes out of lockdown.

The new construction-focused spending package includes:

• £1.5 billion this year in hospital spending
• Over £1 billion for a school rebuilding programme
• £560 million for repairs and upgrades to schools and further education colleges
• Millions of pounds to upgrade courts and prisons
• £900 million for local projects
• £96 million for town centres and funding to accelerate infrastructure projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

All of these projects will require electricians, plumbers, gas engineers and carpenters. So now is a fantastic time to learn a trade and join the construction industry - especially if the coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted your current line of work.

Boris Johnson's announcement was based on funding that offers many people great new opportunities. "That is how it is meant to sound and to be, because that is what the times demand," he added.

The future for skilled tradespeople has never been brighter. Call Access Training on 0800 345 7492 to discuss your new career options.

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It can be difficult deciding which path to take in life. You’ve made the bold decision to retrain, but how do you decide where to go from there?

Currently the UK is experiencing a shortage of ‘Gas Safe’ installers, which means if you do plan on taking the plunge, now is a particularly good time to do so. Skilled workers are in demand by both domestic and commercial customers, so at least you know the work is out there. By choosing the right trades training course you will ensure you are in a strong position to land the jobs in your area.

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Recent research has found that well over half of over 35 years olds do not possess the necessary levels of trades training to be able to carry out even the most basic DIY tasks. Persimmon Homes are seizing upon this research and advising people to think twice about buying new houses instead of older ones which may require work. Sales Director, John Gibbs, commented: “More than half of young adults aged less than 35 lack the basic DIY skills required to maintain their home. Although there are many homeowners who do enjoy carrying out DIY tasks and have the necessary skills to be able to do so safely and successfully, there is a significant number who do not”.

The research has also highlighted that homeowners have suffered financially after attempted DIY projects have failed. Mistakes have had to be rectified, costing nearly three times more than if the job had been completed correctly in the first instance. The average cost of putting right a failed DIY job which has been completed by an individual under the age of 35 is £2,498. This compares unfavourably to the £838 which is required to fix an ineffective job attempted by those over the age of 45.

If you want to save some money and complete DIY tasks safely and effectively, ensuring a top quality job at the first time of asking, you should certainly consider attending one of the DIY training courses we run here at Access. Our comprehensive trades training will give you the confidence to carry out DIY tasks in and around your home.

All individuals should be more than equipped to carry out DIY tasks around their homes if they receive just basic DIY training. This advice comes from AA Home Rescue, whose spacewoman said that even though there are limitations to the tasks a homeowner should expect to carry out themselves, there are simple DIY tasks which are within easy reach of all homeowners.

Such tasks include the repairing of plasterwork, patching up cracks and holes, replacing tiles, basic plumbing tasks such as fixing leaking taps, hanging pictures using hooks, putting up shelves, decorating a bedroom by hanging wallpaper and painting walls and ceilings are all tasks individuals should be able to handle given some short instruction.

Although individuals are encouraged to have a go at the more basic of tasks, AA Home Rescue strongly advise the more complex jobs, such as those which require a professional qualification and may involve gas installation or domestic electrics, are best left to fully trained and qualified professionals. A gas system must only be worked on by someone who has undertaken a gas course and has gained their GasSafe qualification. In the same respect, only qualified electricians who are Part P qualified should work on any aspect of your household electrics.

Here at Access Training, we offer the perfect DIY trades training course which will give you the basic skills to carry out all manner of simple DIY tasks. Our short and friendly courses will help you discover the sense of satisfaction which can be gained from carrying out DIY tasks yourself, as well as helping you to save a considerable amount of money. It will also provide a valuable stepping stone if you are looking to progress onto more complicated tasks in the future.

Recent research reported by Wickes’ website shows that homeowners are spending nearly double the amount of money on improvements to their kitchen compared to any other area of their home. On average, out of every £100 spent on DIY and home improvements, £33 is spent directly or indirectly on the kitchen.

So why is this the case? Well, it could be attributed to the modern perception that the kitchen is the new centre point of the home. Many properties are now open plan in layout with most new apartment designs plan focusing around the kitchen as the social centre. With the use of the appropriate trade skills older houses such as the Victorian Terraces have also been adapted over the years to reflect the prominence of the kitchen. Traditionally the kitchen was hidden away at the back of the house, with separate reception rooms and dining rooms. Now these spaces have been knocked through, revealing the kitchen as the jewel in the crown. Kitchen designs have now become a statement area for home owners, encouraging an element of creativity to show off to family and friends.

Persimmon Homes believe they understand exactly what the modern homeowner is looking for:

“At Persimmon, we invest a great deal of time and effort into designing each and every room to ensure it suits the most demanding of lifestyles. Take our kitchens for example – the household appliances we include as standard, such as the fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine, are becoming less about functionality and more about chic contemporary style. Along with the tough economic climate, as well as the rising popularity of shows such as Come Dine With Me, people’s desire to create the perfect ambience for dining at home is at the forefront of their minds.

Kitchen improvements can be a daunting prospect to individuals without the necessary trade skills. Those without the required knowhow should call upon expert trained kitchen fitters to carry out the work, as the fitting of units and worktops can become an expensive mistake if attempted without prior training. Access Training offer professional kitchen courses for individuals looking to increase their trade skills. Our range of DIY kitchen fitting courses will teach you everything you need to know to be able make all the improvements you require. Click on the links below to view our comprehensive kitchen fitting courses.

To improve your trade skills and learn all the necessary steps required to successfully improve or fit your own kitchen, contact Access Training today.

In a stark warning from the UK’s building industry, there are currently not enough plumbers, electricians, gas engineers or the required skilled manpower to build and maintain the UK’s infrastructure

We have already mentioned in earlier posts the words of Di Johnson, president of the Electrical Contractors’ Association, who has voiced her concerns about the number of skilled trades people who will be available in the future.

She warned that the failure to invest now may result in a skills crisis, which would take the country years to recover from. Johnson aired her concerns: “there will come a time when we won’t have the skilled resources to deliver major infrastructure projects.

“I work in the electrical industry where the average age is around 45. This is largely the same across much of the craft sector, which means we could face serious problems in five years time as these skilled individuals start retiring from the profession, or look for a less physical office-based job… we simply will not have sufficient numbers to replace them. This will impact hugely on major infrastructure projects. If the nation’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup had been successful I would have had grave concerns about our ability to meet the deadlines.  

“Electrical, heating and ventilating professionals are the frontline troops responsible for delivering the sustainability agenda. These professionals can advise and properly install energy saving technology to ensure maximum efficiency. Without an increase of numbers in these sectors, we will not be able to hit the UK’s ambitious carbon reduction targets.”

Without a doubt, the time is nigh for any individual looking for a change in career to seriously examine the possibility of trades training. Whether you are interested in the electrical or plumbing industry, there are currently widespread opportunities available to those who receive trades training now. Whether they form their own business, or work for an employer, you will be able to secure your long term future, as well as that of the country.
 
To read in more depth the comments made by Di Johnson, please go to votlimum.co.uk. For further information regarding the trades training on offer here at Access, take a look at our plumbing, gas and electrical courses, and you could take great strides in the industry and fulfil your ambitions.

If you are reading this post you are doubtless aware of the continuing debate surrounding the future of Part P and whether or not it is sufficient to meet the demands of the electrical industry, and more importantly, of the general public.

Electricians across the spectrum seem to be divided about its effectiveness, unable to agree as to whether the current electrical building regulations go far enough, or simply create a vacuum within the industry. Since the coalition government took power the regulations have been caught up in the political undercurrents which have been circulating a number of government departments.

The debate will certainly go on, but the merits of Part P of the building regulations received a ringing endorsement last month from comments made by Phil Buckle, Director General of Electrical Safety Council, who said, “I certainly agree Part P has not been seen as the electrician’s friend, but it has certainly brought about benefits for the consumer.

“As a contributing factor towards improved safety, the Council will continue to lobby Westminster for its retention. We have also made our support for Part P clear at the party conferences held in the autumn of 2010. We have already sent comments to the Minister, Andrew Stunell, as part of an initial review of the building regulations. Our entire raison d’être [at the Electrical Safety Council] is to ensure the safety of all users of electricity. It would not be acceptable to the ESC if we were to allow a vacuum whereby untrained individuals could undertake electrical work without checks – this would surely be the case if Part P were scrapped.”

There seems little doubt that with the might of the Electrical Safety Council behind it, and in conjunction with associated bodies such as the NICEIC, Part P will remain in place, continuing to protect the general public from the dangers of unchecked electrical work in domestic properties.

If you’re an electrician or tradesperson undertaking electrical work in a domestic environment, it is essential to ensure your conformation with Part P of the building regulations. We would also highly recommend joining a Competent Person Scheme such as the NICEIC.

If you would like to learn more about the Part P electrical courses offered by Access Training, or you’d like to know more about the NICEIC, call us today on 0800 345 7492.

Believe it or not, despite all the extensive media coverage at the time, many people are still unaware that the Corgi accreditation, which regulated the work carried out by gas fitters, has now been replaced by Gas Safe.

The Corgi Register changed to the Gas Safe Register back in September of 2008, after the HSE conducted a study which established the need for a new system to cope with the increase in the number of homes using gas in the UK (about 21 million). More importantly, it was designed to improve the statistics for death and injury resulting from gas installations. It was felt that a new Gas Safe Register would increase public awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Stephen Manley, an Inspector for the HSE, referred to the need for more people to be aware of the change from Corgi Registration to Gas Safe Registration: “It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on a gas appliance. When unqualified workers try to bypass the law in this way they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution and a large fine, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.

"Working with gas appliances requires a great deal of skill and knowledge, it is also potentially very dangerous. Only qualified and registered engineers should attempt it.

Paul Johnston, the Chief Executive of the Gas Safe Register, commented: "To fit, fix or service gas appliances… that person [needs to be] Gas Safe Registered [not Corgi Registered]. You shouldn't take any risks; badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning".

So, if you are looking to become qualified as a gas fitter, you need to become Gas Safe Registered. Access Training offer the simplest way to get Gas Safe Registered quickly and safely; our gas training courses come with a guaranteed work placement with a reputable Gas Safe Registered company, giving you the skills and confidence to fit gas appliances safely. However, just remember that it’s the Gas Safe Register and not the Corgi Register you really need to be a part of.

For comprehensive training enabling you to become Gas Safe Registered, contact Access Training today on 0800 345 7492. We have an enormous range of industry accredited trades training courses, which will teach you everything you need to know.