What Pier have done to play their part in the skills gap
With the uncertainty of workloads peaks and troughs the taking on of apprenticeships in the M&E industry has always been ad-hoc for the majority and only the minority of M&E contractors are able to commit for a multitude of reasons from, workload, funding, calibre, continuity of work the intake has been low for many year. Pier recognised this and set to developing a partnership with BESA.
This partnership was instrumental for Pier to be able to offer the “flexible Apprenticeship” scheme in 2014, we developed a model that allows clients to hire an apprentice from us in the same way they hire a qualified M&E Tradesperson.
Pioneering agency qualifies female Welsh Electrical Apprentice of the Year 2018
Melissa Smart, P.I.E.R Ltd, Construction and M&E services provider, has qualified its first electrician through their innovative flexible apprenticeship model, who has been awarded the BESA Wales Electrical Apprentice of the Year 2018.
“Phaze Electrical originally employed Melissa Smart on a temporary basis through P.I.E.R’s Flexible Apprentice Scheme as an electrical apprentice working on a 680 bed student accommodation in Cardiff.
Melissa has excelled in demonstrating her capabilities to the extent that we promoted her to assisting the site supervisors. At this point Melissa carried out numerous aspects of works including room sign offs and quality management. She also assisted with health and safety aspects of the project including signing permits and organising health and safety files.
Melissa is very conscientious, organised and capable and is now directly employed and is an asset to the company”
Rob Hulland, Contracts Manager
“BEST has worked in partnership with P.I.E.R since 2012 to offer an alternative to the traditional apprenticeship training model. Based on a strong desire to get young people into apprenticeships in the Building Services Industry, by enabling employers of all sizes to feel confident in being able to offer young people training in their workplaces.
The first young people taken onto the scheme in 2013 reaped the benefits of the support offered by P.I.E.R with provision of site PPE and starter tool kits, from BEST with programme induction, review of progress and mentoring and from their ‘host’ employer with training and practical experience on site.
The scheme has worked extremely well, with close contact being maintained between all parties involved – the employer is kept informed of appropriate activities and the evidence the apprentices need to ensure progress is maintained.
One of the first apprentices is now approaching completion of their Level 2 Apprenticeship, with 2 more apprentices signed up for their Flexible Apprenticeship this September, and many more to follow”
Peter Tomkins, Senior Training Adviser, BEST
