Welsh Teacher Tour opens careers professionals' eyes to scaffolding
NASC's Teacher Tours programme continues to gather momentum, with the latest event in Wales bringing careers professionals face to face with the modern scaffolding industry.
Hosted by CWIC Scaffolding Academy in Swansea and delivered in partnership with Centregreat Engineering and CITB, the event welcomed 17 attendees; a mix of careers advisers and Jobcentre work coaches who support individuals across schools, unemployed adults and prison settings. That breadth meant the day reached professionals who influence career decisions at multiple stages of a person's journey into employment.
Each partner brought a different perspective on the industry. CWIC opened the session with an introduction to the academy, its partnership with the University and its work alongside employers to develop the future workforce, before walking attendees through how the scaffolding apprenticeship works, the training journey, the qualifications learners achieve and the support available throughout the programme.
Centregreat Engineering then gave an insight into the industry itself, demonstrating how integral scaffolding is to almost every area of construction and infrastructure. By showcasing the variety of projects scaffolders work on and the professionalism of the sector, the presentation helped challenge some of the common misconceptions that still surround scaffolding.
CITB rounded off the presentations by explaining the support available to employers, including grants, funding and recruitment initiatives, giving careers professionals a clearer picture of the pathways available to individuals entering the sector and how employers can access financial support to recruit, train and retain staff.
The event generated positive discussion throughout, with attendees asking questions on career pathways, qualifications, recruitment and progression. Feedback was equally encouraging, with one attendee saying they were surprised by "how many opportunities there are in various locations and how intense the training is", and that they now felt more able to inform clients about the role.
Debbie James of Careers Wales said: "This was a very enjoyable visit with lots of information to take away to clients. I will definitely be interested in the Teacher Tours initiative visiting my school, to speak to pupils to continue their understanding of an interesting sector."
Teacher Tours invites educators, careers advisers and employability professionals into NASC member workplaces to see first-hand what the scaffolding and access sector looks like today, including the safety standards, entry routes, qualifications and career progression on offer. The better informed these professionals are, the more likely they are to recommend scaffolding as a career to the people they support.
With an ongoing skills shortage, events like this are an important part of the long-term solution. NASC would like to thank CWIC, Centregreat Engineering and CITB for their support in delivering such an informative and engaging day.
If your organisation is interested in hosting a Teacher Tour, contact: [email protected] or call 020 7822 7400
