Training course is building for the future
6 June 2007
Eleven assistant site managers have graduated from a unique training and development course that will propel them into management posts in the future.
The programme is the brainchild of award-winning house builder Redrow and is aimed at ‘home growing’ a new generation of professional and accomplished site managers to oversee construction of Redrow’s new homes.
The Assistant Site Manager Development Programme was launched last year and this is the second group to graduate.
All have successfully developed the management skills required to run a site in compliance with Redrow policies and procedures and, in addition to this, each candidate has completed an NVQ level 3 in Site Supervision with the NHBC (National House-Building Council).
Karen Jones, group human resources director for Redrow, says: “Our investment in this training programme has reaped dividends already. Several of those who graduated last year have gone on to become successful site managers and we are hoping that this year’s intake will progress quickly in the same way.
“As well as preparing our assistant site managers for future management, this unique training and development programme is part of our overall commitment to raising the competency of our construction staff above the industry average, as well as increasing employee retention and job satisfaction.”
The successful graduates received their certificates from Redrow chief executive Neil Fitzsimmons, and Richard Lambert, director-general of the CBI, was on hand to offer his congratulations.
The programme concentrates on every aspect of the build operation starting with lower risk areas such as finishing trades and working through to high risk ground works. All candidates are taken through the house-building process in detail from a Redrow perspective, from acquisition of the land right through to customer handover.
This year’s graduates were drawn from all over England, Scotland and Wales, including 32-year-old Martin Chapman, who works in Bridlington and has been with Redrow for two years.
He says: “I really enjoyed all aspects of the course and there was a great comradery between everyone. I learnt about how Redrow operates on all different levels, what the company expects from me and what the industry as a whole expects. My man-management skills have also benefited enormously from the experience.”
Ian Radford, 30, based in Sutton Coldfield, adds that the course has given him a new-found confidence: “I found the course really useful, it gave lots of good tips and I now feel much more confident within my job. I’ve been working for Redrow for three years now and I hope that one day soon I will get the opportunity to take the step up to management because now I feel prepared for that challenge.”
Group training sessions and stipulated management tasks on their own sites were some of the core aspects of the course. Redrow Site Management Certificates were awarded on completion, while the NVQ level 3 element was completed separately.
Redrow invests heavily in training at all levels from apprenticeships to management and has its own purpose-built UK training centre, in Tamworth, Staffs, which delivers around 4,000 training days per annum.
To find out more about securing a rewarding job with an award-winning house builder, go to redrowcareers.co.uk.
