Colleges need to get on top of new skills
A HUDDERSFIELD-based building supplies firm has opened a new branch in North Yorkshire.
The Myers Group, based at Barr Street, off Leeds Road, has opened the branch at Hambleton Grove, near Knaresborough to serve customers who would previously have to travel to Myers Building Supplies branches in Leeds or Leyburn.
Myers Group directors James Berry and Katie Berry said they planned to open more branches in the region.
The new branch at Knaresborough follows the acquisition of a branch in Leeds and the expansion of the existing branch at Sowerby Bridge during the last two years.
Mr Berry said: “We have ambitious plans to take our offering to more customers in new locations and have the confidence that we can support local tradesmen by assuring them of excellent service as standard.
“The opening of a new branch in Knaresborough is particularly exciting as it confirms the commitment of the Myers Group to continuing growth in Yorkshire.”
Along with its building supplies business, Myers Group, a fourth generation family-owned business employing about 350 people, also includes Readymix Huddersfield, Quarrying operation Johnson Wellfield and skip hire services. efficiency industry.
He said that the current college curriculum “quite rightly” covered the basic roofing installation essentials – but failed when it came to incorporating “crucial” energy efficient-related skill sets, such as U-value calculations, condensation risk analysis and heat-loss monthly savings.
That meant companies such as Ploughcroft, which has its a own EcoRoof product, were unable to find suitably qualified staff – further exacerbating the industrywide skills shortage.
Mr Hopkins, who is calling for course and curriculum planners to address the issue, said: “Over the past three years, we have seen a rapid growth in our Eco-Roof business as energy prices continue to rise and customers become increasingly clued-up when it comes to greener living and the impact it can have on their energy bills. “However, while consumer demand rises, colleges simply aren’t keeping up. Given there was no existing eco roof apprenticeship scheme in place that covered the type of specialist work we carry out, we’ve been trialling and created our own using my professional teaching and roofing assessor qualifications.
“That said, we can only do so much and today’s apprentices are the people who will drive the energy efficiency industry forward in years to come. As such it is absolutely essential that colleges – and other construction businesses – continue to evolve and invest in skills and development.”
Ploughcroft’s two-year Eco-Roof apprenticeship offers a mix of onthe-job training and classroombased learning spanning traditional roofing as well as a wide range of energy-efficient construction techniques required to meet the needs of the fast-growing eco-construction sector.
It is seeking graduates to join its Eco-Roof apprenticeship scheme. Visit www.ploughcroft.co.uk