A Manchester-based assessment company is preparing for its next phase of growth with a key senior appointment.

North West Skills Academy, which specialises in providing training and assessment services to the construction industry, has recruited Dan Russell as Head of End Point Assessment (EPA).

The role has been created as a result of the company being awarded Approved End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) status by the government.

End Point Assessment (EPA) is the final assessment for an apprentice to ensure that they can do the job they have been training for, and will further bolster North West Skills Academy’s offering.

Dan has a decade of experience in the training sector and joins North West Skills Academy from Innovate Awarding, where he was an EPA Product Manager.

Samuel Riley, CEO at North West Skills Academy, said: “Dan’s appointment follows continued growth in demand for End Point Assessment in the construction sector, and he will bring invaluable skills and knowledge to our team.

“Becoming an Approved End Point Assessment Organisation will allow us to further utilise our assets and expertise to further serve our industry and Dan’s experience will be instrumental to our growth.”

Dan added: “I have watched North West Skills Academy grow over the past few years and it’s clear that it’s a forward-thinking firm with a passion for upskilling the sector.”

FIS Skills Engagement Manager Amanda Scott added: “This is wonderful news for FIS Approved Training Provider North West Skills Academy.  We are delighted for  FIS members as this provides a training, qualification and testing service of known quality.  We welcome Dan to the North West Skills Academy team and the wider FIS community and look forward to continuing this long established working relationship”.

Since its inception in 2013 North West Skills Academy has grown its team from two employees to 33 and has upskilled more than 4,500 learners and employees in the construction sector.

Its End Point Assessment offer is currently Carpentry and Joining but will be expanding to include Drylining, Plastering, Brick Laying, Painting and Decorating, Groundwork, Construction Site Management, Construction Site Supervisor, Plumbing & Domestic Heating, and Wall & Floor Tiling.

www.nwskillsacademy.co.uk

The deadline for the consultation on the review of the ban on combustible materials in external walls has been extended to 25 May 2020 in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Build UK will be submitting a response to the consultation and please send any comments to joecilia@thefis.org  no later than Monday 18 May.

The Government has published its response to the Building a Safer Future consultation, setting out how it intends to establish the new Building Safety Regulator.

The new regime will initially apply to all multi‐occupied buildings of 18 metres or more in height but may be expanded based on the outcome of the consultation on the review of the ban on combustible materials in external walls. The Government will also establish a national Construction Products Regulator responsible for market oversight, enforcement action, and providing technical advice to the industry to aid compliance with the new regime.

FIS has teamed up with Barbour ABI to bring members deeper analysis and intelligence on the construction market. This next level of analysis will help members to forecast trends and assist in your business planning.

In this issue…

• Contract awards robust for March but delays now hit
• Medical and Health sector not impacted by delays
• London is leading region for contract awards

Government is looking at what current legislation is available to them to ensure that products are correctly installed and appropriately used.

This will undoubtedly call in current relationships between suppliers and installers and reflects Dame Judith Hackitt’s call for a Golden thread of information, more collaboration and greater emphasis on Competency.

This technical note taken from a recent longer read in SpecFinish provides an example where an installer was prosecuted.

Magnesium Oxide building boards (MgO)

NHBC has recently updated its website regarding the use of MgO boards in essence they will not accept MgO building boards on buildings where the foundations are begun on or after 30 April 2020 under its insurance warranty.

Currently Premier guarantee have not made such conditions, their advice can be found here.

Our advice is that you should check with the Principle designer before suggesting or using MgO boards on projects.

The udpated guidance is available to members here.