13 September 2021         News

JTL owned Develop Training is now offering its suite of specially designed short commercial training courses to those in the Building Services Engineering sector. 

Due to a sustained demand throughout the pandemic, the group are delighted to be able to offer a wide range of accredited short courses from Electrical & Mechanical, Confined Spaces, Gas Safety, Leadership & Management and Health & Safety.

Short courses for the Building Services Engineering sector

As one of the UK’s largest providers of work-based training, JTL already train more apprentices than anyone else in the Building Services Engineering sector and are now able to offer a wide portfolio of commercial off-the-shelf and bespoke short courses.

These will further strengthen the learner journey offering to enhance and facilitate CPD across the Building Services Sector.

Industry leaders in apprenticeships and commercial training

The group has also continued its investment in Develop’s centres with extensive refurbishments at both York and Derby to create centres of training excellence.

As industry leaders in their respective fields (apprenticeships and commercial training) this strategic improvement in the combined offering will create greater course provision based on quality, cementing their joint reputations for excellence.

Unrivalled expertise

Paul McGuire, Chief Operating Officer at JTL, said: “It’s important that we adapt and evolve the group’s provision to ensure we can continue to offer high quality training with great results. By consolidating our provision in this way with Develop Training, we will be able to guarantee unrivalled expertise and infrastructure across the board. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Playing to our strengths

John Kerr, Managing Director at Develop Training, said: “This announcement is great news for Develop and for our clients, as JTL’s position and knowledge in the apprenticeship arena can only result in an improvement in provision and an increase in the scalability of what Develop could offer in the past. Likewise, taking on the management of other commercial training courses from JTL makes perfect sense in terms of efficiencies within the group allowing Develop to play to its strengths to deliver the results that our customers expect.”

Further information

For further information and a full list of courses please download the Building Services Engineering brochure. To find out more, please contact our friendly customer service team on 0800 876 6708 or email JTLenquiries@developtraining.co.uk.

   05 July 2021         News

An eight-year project by Develop Training to deliver a revolutionary training and course booking system for 4,500 gas industry workers has received huge praise from client tRIIO.

Develop was undaunted by the size and scope of the project for tRIIO, one of the partners in a gas engineering project running across eastern England and north London.

The training involved the delivery of a bespoke programme of more than 200 compliance, health and safety courses to 4,500 front-line Cadent workers in the gas industry.

The project required the transfer of tRIIO’s entire induction course booking system over to a more efficient and user-friendly Develop Training one using BookIT software.

A massive impact on the efficiency and delivery of technical training services

Joanne Green, training and competency manager for tRIIO, said: “Using BookIT has had a massive impact on the efficiency and delivery of our technical training services.

“In particular, the user-friendly web-based platform provides our users with a quick and easy method of identifying training requirements and booking courses.

“This resulted in a streamlining of the overall process, through which we booked almost 2,000 training dates within the first three months. This is a huge achievement in a short space of time.”

Revolutionising a previously time-consuming system

An integral part of the new BookIt platform was the ability to create a learning and assessment portal that revolutionised the way personal development was managed within the business. The system enabled tRIIO to replace a time-consuming spreadsheet-based system with an automated, efficient and intuitive one.

Working over the eight-year period with Develop Training on devising the online induction booking process increased efficiency across tRIIO’s business by vastly increasing its data accuracy.

The gas company has now been able to delegate much of the day-to-day responsibility for training to line managers in the field.

Managing training data efficiently and quickly

Data relating to course attendances and outcomes can now be easily accessed and, where necessary, management action taken quickly and effectively.

Develop Training’s managing director John Kerr said: “I remember in 2016 first discussing the project with Joanne and distinctly recall her enthusiasm for it.

“Despite its scale, she knew even then that it had the ability to change the way training was managed, designed and delivered – and it most certainly has.

“Joanne should be exceptionally proud of this project. Eight years is a long time in any sector, especially utilities, and seeing this project through from concept to project completion is a huge achievement.

“It’s also testament to the open and honest relationship we have had throughout, and I am especially proud of the difference BookIT has made to tRIIO and the savings it has made as a consequence.”

About the tRIIO project

tRIIO works in partnership with Cadent to maintain and improve the supply of gas to millions of people living and working in north London and the east of England.

Responsibilities include the replacing of old mains, laying new ones, installing new connections to houses and commercial premises, and even helping with emergency response services.

tRIIO’s gas engineering joint venture is between Morrison Utility Services and Skanska UK.

Joanne Green won a Skanska Utilities special recognition award for her work with Develop Training on implementing the Learning and Assessment portal for the project.

   30 June 2021         News

Although Asbestos has been banned since 1999, this deadly material is still present in an estimated 500,000 buildings constructed before then, posing a huge risk to anyone who comes into contact with it.

In fact, IOSH report that in Britain, more than 2,500 people die from mesothelioma every year because of past exposure to asbestos.

Action Mesothelioma Day 2021

On Action Mesothelioma Day (Action Meso Day) Friday 2nd July, support groups, charities and other organisations and individuals will come together to call for more awareness of the dangers of asbestos.

Develop Training are calling on people to take the dangers of asbestos seriously and help to support Action Meso Day by sharing posts on social media using the hashtag #ActionMeso.

Understanding the risks of asbestos & implementing control measures

If you want to understand the risks posed by asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and learn how to put safeguarding measures in place then Develop currently offer two training courses that can be delivered on-site, in centre or virtually to suit your needs:

UKATA Asbestos Awareness

A training course to provide an awareness and develop the knowledge amongst employees as regards the hazards and risks posed by asbestos containing materials (ACMs). The course further gives an overview of the legislative measures in place to permit employees to safeguard themselves and others affected by work activities.

UKATA Asbestos Awareness in Soil and Made Ground

A training course to provide an awareness of and develop knowledge amongst employees regarding the hazards and risks posed by soils and surrounding ground on sites that may contain ACMs. This course is for supervisors and trades personnel, including trainees, such as but not limited to: site managers/supervisors/agents, site remediation employees, construction workers, ground workers, plant and machinery operators, utility installers/maintainers and other such professionals.

An introduction to working with asbestos

Download our free eBook to help you manage asbestos here. Containing a range of useful information for both employers and those working directly with asbestos, it will help you put in place the correct measures to protect your staff and visitors from the dangers that surround exposure to asbestos.

For further information on asbestos-related training, or to no obligation consultation, then contact us on 0800 876 6708 or customerservice@developtraining.co.uk.

   28 June 2021         News

Develop Training has welcomed the first intake of clients on its gold standard construction course – with many employers receiving money back from the CITB Levy.

Approved by the CITB and Build UK, the IOSH Safety, Health and Environment for Construction Site Managers has been a roaring success despite the raft of challenges posed by the pandemic, and it was conducted for the very first time using both virtual and in person sessions.

Daryll Garavan, Utilities Training Manager at Develop Training, said: “Like many training companies, Develop Training had to adapt the majority of its courses to include virtual and in person learning. We trialled a mix of blended learning, but ultimately we have listened to our customers in order to retain the high quality training that we’re known for and decided to keep the course as an in-classroom practical based course moving forwards.

“We are delighted at the success of this course and the level of learner feedback is fantastic. The pandemic poses so many challenges for the construction industry, but we are happy to report that we have overcome them as a team.”

Click here to find out more about the course.

Reducing the cost of accidents and illness by up to 40 per cent

IOSH’s globally-delivered Safety, Health and Environment for Construction Site Managers course provides essential knowledge for anyone who oversees or manages safety, health and environmental risks associated with construction activities.

The course aims to keep businesses healthy and safe, with an effective training programme, which claims to reduce the cost of accidents and illness by up to 40 per cent within the industry.

Money back for those who pay the CITB Levy

Under the Industrial Training Act 1982, all construction industry employers and contractors must be assessed against the CITB Levy and a Levy return must be sent in each year.  Those who pay into the Levy can get up to £120 back per employee enrolled on the Develop Training Course.

Find out more about the CITB Levy here.

Many of Develop’s training courses can be fully, or partially, funded via various grants and levies.

Almost half of all construction accidents are falls from height

Latest figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show almost half of all construction accidents (47%) were from falls from height.

There were 40 fatal injuries in 2019/20, slightly up on the 5-year average of 37 per year. There were also 143 prosecutions with £8.3 million issued in fines, which averages over £60,000 per conviction.

A gold standard in teaching

Daryll Continued: “This course is not only the gold standard in teaching, it also offers money back for those paying into the Levy. There really isn’t a price that can be put on the health and safety of your workforce, and we encourage construction bosses to take this issue seriously.”

Positive learner feedback

Emma Thomas, a learner on the course from Icosa Water said: “The Team at Develop are just fantastic and very knowledgeable. I have really enjoyed this course and found it has been useful to my job. I would definitely recommend it to others within the industry.”

   09 June 2021         News

Launched in Swindon in 2009, The Sandwich People aims to give homeless residents the opportunity to get involved and become part of a business.

The social enterprise scheme is run by the Salvation Army and creates the opportunity for people to turn their lives around, recognise their full potential, and most importantly learn new skills by gaining valuable work experience in a safe environment.

The Sandwich People

Develop Training has partnered with The Sandwich People to provide its delegate lunches at its Swindon training centre.

Louise Mitchell, Procurement and Properties Coordinator at Develop said:

“Here at Develop we’re always keen to support our local communities and with The Sandwich People providing a valuable service this seemed like the perfect opportunity!

The standard of food is superb. Our delegates always comment on how tasty and fresh their lunches are and there is always lots of variety. Emma, the Programme Coordinator, is always very helpful and flexible as well.

We would not hesitate to recommend The Sandwich People to others.”

The numbers speak for themselves

Many of the existing team of volunteers have experienced homelessness and are now working to help support others to turn their lives around.

Over the last 12 years they have helped over 600 residents back into a working environment, independent living, education or volunteering roles. Over 75% of those volunteers have gained qualifications in food safety level 2, and 25% have gained food safety level 3.

The team have also recruited 15% of those volunteers to roles within the business, ranging from catering staff to support staff – an incredible way for current residents to see first-hand that the programme truly works.

The team are also very proud to won Social Enterprise of the Year in recent years, as well as being recognised by the House of Commons for their community work during the global pandemic.

They have also managed to maintain a 5* environmental health rating for 12 years. Just a few of their incredible achievements.

Click here to find out more about The Sandwich People.

   07 June 2021         News

Develop Training is delighted to announce the appointment of Dan Sutherland as Senior Water Systems Lecturer.

With fifteen years of experience in the legionella / water systems industry, two-thirds of which was spent as a legionella risk assessor working for one of the UK’s largest water treatment companies, Dan has more than proved his wealth of knowledge and commitment during his six years at Develop as a Water Systems Lecturer in the Estates & FM team.

New role for Dan

After facing off stiff competition from a number of external candidates, Dan was thrilled to learn of his success and said,

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working at Develop for the past few years and have learnt a lot from Rob Griffiths, whose role this previously was. I saw Rob as both a mentor and a colleague and his guidance has been vital in helping me to become the lecturer I am today. I can’t wait to get stuck into my new role and continue to make Develop’s Water Systems & Legionella training the best in the industry!”

Dan’s appointment takes place with immediate effect.

   27 May 2021         News

Bright sparks at Develop Training have created an industry “first” with the launch of a blended training course for workers who handle high voltage electrical systems.

The course, titled Authorised Person: High Voltage (AP15b), was the result of careful research with clients following unforeseen changes to course delivery due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Develop Training, the UK’s leading accredited provider of compliance, technical and safety training, had transferred a number of its courses to virtual, online delivery since the beginning of the pandemic.

Positive feedback from employers and employees

As a result of the positive feedback from clients, Develop recognised that, while a high level of practical, on-site training was absolutely essential for many courses, some online provision was also useful.

Now, a range of “blended” programmes, comprising a combination of online and in-person learning, have been designed as alternatives to Develop’s traditional versions of the courses.

Authorised Person: High Voltage training

The first of these courses to be launched, the Authorised Person: High Voltage (AP15b) blended learning training course, has recently been piloted at Develop’s Swindon training centre.

Viktors Nikolajevs, Estates & FM Training Manager for Develop Training, said: “It’s been a huge success. The pandemic was no doubt the catalyst for these blended programmes, but the model has certainly won praise from both our clients, and learners themselves.”

An industry first

“The AP15b course is an industry first – no one has offered a similar blended learning programme for a high voltage course before. So we’re proud to say we’re first on the grid!”

The popularity of the blended training programmes is partly down to the added flexibility it offers to learners and their employers during the challenging times created by COVID19.

A number of benefits over the traditional approach

Instead of running the course over five consecutive days at a Develop training centre, learners now have up to two months to complete a number of online modules – in their own time – before having to attend the training centre for just three days.

Individual modules within each session are also reduced to a maximum of 30-minutes of online attendance rather than up to three hours at a training centre on the standard course model.

Viktors continued: “From an employer’s perspective, employees will spend less time off-site, therefore reducing travelling costs and overtime. It’s a win-win.”

A great learning experience

Industry employees who have attended the pilot blended course agree:

Ian Yates, Electrical Safety Manager for Welsh Water, was part of the first cohort on the pilot course. He said “there was a lot of technical information to absorb on the online theory section, so having more time to complete it was hugely beneficial as long as participants took advantage of the availability of course tutors online.

“It comes down to being disciplined. It’s important that learners schedule the time into their work diaries, then use the opportunities available to contact tutors – and they also may be able to ask someone in their own organisation if they begin to struggle with any element of the course.

“The blended course was a great learning experience, and I particularly liked the online part. I’d definitely recommend it.”

   26 May 2021         News

The Street (Road) Works – Safety, Quality and Compliance Certificate has been designed for those who set or implement policy, manage or supervise staff that inspect or audit street works, and for those that carry out inspections or audits of ongoing or completed street works.

NRSWA Certificate

The certificate was developed by the Training and Accreditation Group TAG on behalf of HAUC (UK).

Typically, Candidates will include those inspectors / auditors and their senior managers who operate on behalf of a Highway (or Roads) Authority or their nominated agent, on behalf of a Statutory Undertaker or their contractual agents or for an independent Street Works quality assurance organisation and also those contractors that operate under New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA).

This Certificate does not in any way, replace or supersede the existing NRSWA qualification requirements, as prescribed within the individual Street Works (Qualifications of Operatives and Supervisors) Regulations of the four devolved nations of the United Kingdom (UK).

Certificate modules

The Certificate contains three modules:

Module 1 – Legislation and Codes of Practice

Module 2 – Auditing or Inspecting Excavation, Backfill and Reinstatement Quality and Compliance

Module 3  – Auditing or Inspecting Signing, Lighting and Guarding Safety and Compliance

All three modules must be achieved in order to achieve the HAUC (UK) Street (Road) Works – Safety, Quality and Compliance Certificate.

   10 May 2021         News

Numerous changes to the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing (PAT Testing) were introduced in late 2020.

The latest edition is a significant revision with new guidance on the testing requirements and frequency of inspection and testing amongst other aspects.

It will affect all business owners and duty-holders who own or maintain electrical equipment in the workplace.

Watch the webinar on-demand

Presented by industry electrical expert Robbie Macdonald, Develop’s on-demand webinar gives an overview of:

• In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (5th Ed.)
• The changes to the IET Code of Practice
• Why ‘Portable Appliance Testing’ is no more
• What this means for business owners and duty-holders

   05 May 2021         News

Develop recently ran a Mental Resilience and Wellbeing training course for colleagues at a major electricity distribution network operator.

One of the delegates was so enamoured with the training that she took the time out of her day to contact the trainer and let her know just how much the training has already helped her in her day to day working life.

Delegate feedback

I just want to say I’m really grateful that I had the opportunity to attend your course. It’s really helped me to take a step back and assess any situation I’m faced with in work. I deal with a lot of stress and anxiety, particularly at the moment, so this has been really useful and I’ve forwarded on these details to 2 of my colleagues in the business who tend to feel overwhelmed and very stressed with their workloads too! (as I’m sure the majority of us do these days!).

I’m currently studying for an exciting interview within the business happening on Tuesday (a big step up from what I’m currently doing) and even the deep breath technique has helped so much with my preparation work. The volume of information I need does seem quite overwhelming at times, especially if I turn a page and I’m faced with numerous policies and legal terms I am not quite familiar with!

I work on my studies after my shift has finished and I feel more confident already just by accepting the fact that I am learning, taking it all in and my brain will be able to recall – and not getting stressed and feeling any form of doubt!

I always have the attitude of “if it’s not going to happen today then it will one day, you did what you can” so my ‘locus of control’ has always been more laid back with the outcome I guess if I feel I’ve done everything I can to prepare!

I just wanted to take the time to send you a message this morning and let you know how much this has helped in such a short space of time. Thank you.