01 November 2013
Julie White, the MD of diamond drilling and concrete sawing company D-Drill, is the new chair of the National Specialist Contractors’ Council’s (NSCC) Training Committee.
The organisation brings together the common aims of 29 specialist trade organisations within construction and is the voice of more than 7,000 contractors across the UK.
It has four key topics at the heart of its policy – fair payment, training, reducing bureaucracy and low carbon.
White will spearhead the NSCC’s work on skills and is reigniting her campaign to see the creation of a national database of apprentices in the construction industry.
She said: “I am a big believer in trade bodies because I think it gives an industry much greater strength to be speaking with one voice.
“Fair payment, cutting red tape and reducing the industry’s carbon footprint are all issues that I am very passionate about but, as the chair of the Training Committee, skills and training will be my primary focus in this role.
“Those who know me know I am a big believer in apprenticeships and training. I’m putting myself through an apprenticeship and 45 per cent of D-Drill’s staff have come through the scheme.
“But we are always looking for future talent and, as the economy starts to improve, construction needs to be prepared and needs to have a pool of people who can come in and help us to achieve sustained growth.
“One idea I have put forward to Government which has received positive ministerial feedback is to have a database of apprentices who have been released by other companies within our industry.
“In principle, everyone agrees with the idea because it means people who have shown an interest in construction but haven’t yet got a permanent job could be picked up by another company who are looking to recruit.
“The sticking point, however, is data protection and that is where I have asked the Government to step in and change the rules.
“Matthew Hancock and Vince Cable have both said they are in favour and that they would look into the detail but we are now looking for something more concrete.”
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