23 January 2024
Message from D-Drill MD Julie White, in her role as current Chair of DSA.
As we begin 2024, it is the perfect time to look ahead but also reflect on our objectives and achievements of 2023.
Membership numbers have stayed constant with around 100 members active within the association, which is positive news considering the uncertain economic climate.
This builds on the fact that, 12 months ago, we set objectives to bring more benefits to our members and that is paying off.
Over the past year, we have seen the introduction of the new benefits directory, toolbox talk directory and an updated Code of Safe Working Practice.
We have continued to cement our position within the specialist sector introducing schemes clearly highlighting a career pathway within our industry from Level 2 operatives, Level 3 supervisors and finishing with Level 6 management NVQs. We have seen great success through these schemes with several operatives taking on high-profile positions or progressing to actually running businesses inside the DSA making them the next generation of industry leaders.
Towards the end of 2023, the board decided to reintroduce our industry magazine, helping to highlight and promote our industry to principal contractors, designers and architects showing the capabilities of our members and benefits of using approved members from the DSA contractors.
Although the drilling and sawing industry is currently thriving, like all trades we have had difficulty with recruitment and retention within the industry. In the specialist sector, the industry remains relatively unknown to school and college leavers as it does with many construction workers alike. In 2024, we are teaming up with Build UK to hold an Open Doors event to highlight our wonderful industry.
We will be opening our training centre for colleges to bring along students so they can gain an insight into the drilling and sawing industry and the potential career pathways available.
The DSA will be exhibiting alongside our supplier members at this year’s UK Concrete Show to be held at Excel London, where we will be promoting our members’ services. It would be great to see as many industry specialists there as possible and to hear your views on how we can further support and aid our members.
The DSA has worked alongside IACDS working groups in creating guidance to be applied internationally across the drilling and sawing industry. We’ll be attending its networking event to be held at World of Concrete alongside all other industry trade bodies from around the world.
As most will be aware, the DSA fully produce and govern the competence card scheme for drilling and sawing and has introduced an online portal, application, and payment system to aid contractors in meeting site access requirements.
We have worked closely with CSCS alliance in the introduction of Construction Skills Certification Scheme smart-check to bring together all 38 card schemes into a single card-checking application.
Currently we support over 4,000 operatives allowing them to gain and hold the relevant industry accreditation, gaining access to sites around the UK to carry out drilling and sawing tasks. This year also marks the drilling and sawing level 2 qualification review, which will ensure that we keep our qualification up-to-date.
It is, for me, a great source of pride on a professional and personal note that I was appointed chair of Build UK in September 2023, making me the first specialist contractor to ever hold the role.
The DSA works closely with directives set by Build UK and the Construction Leadership Council and it’s great to see our industry pulling together and speaking with one voice.
Build UK has plans to develop a national infrastructure pipeline, showing the public and private sectors’ future projects, technology and skill requirements, helping to increase productivity and improved delivery – another benefit to our industry.
Build UK and DSA members continue to raise the quality and standards within construction sectors and, again, that highlights to me the importance of our industry bodies.
We have consistently shown that by working together alongside the rest of the industry and other trade bodies that it helps us in gaining recognition for our industry, which is vital.
It is worth noting that the Construction Leadership Council has been the leading force in the development of clear objectives for the checking of competency on site and, to date, the DSA has met and will continue to meet all objectives set and has been able to achieve all benchmarks within required timescales.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in the association over the last year in allowing us to make continuous progress towards our mission statement. In addition, we look forward to seeing everyone at future events and meetings throughout 2024.
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