Association trends
Unlocking the future for construction industry artisans and leaders
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“There has been a shift from focusing purely on what were he Skills Development Act of previously deemed hard skills – that is, working physically with 1998 seeks to empower the one’s hands – to include managerial and supervisory-centered South African workforce with skills. This shift has come about to boost Artisan specialist skills, to ensure employees access skills in order to bridge the shortage of entrepreneurial skills more opportunities for skill acquisiwhich have become necessary in the changing landscape. Our tion; create space for the new entrants approach now is to enable trainees not only to hone their to the labour market to gain work artisanal skills, but to manage their time, their teams and posexperience, introduce transformative sible risks of their respective projects efficiently.” tools through training and education The shift in the sector has also allowed for more employto redress unfair discrimination pracJohn Matthews ees to become supervisors, a role that requires a holistic view tices in the labour market. of the project. “Several people who have been through our “As technological advancements and the Fourth Industrial skills programmes have moved from supervisors into senRevolution bring significant changes to the construction ior management roles. A few have also been headhunted industry, so the businesses and people operating in this shiftabroad. We believe our skills programmes do not only provide ing landscape need to equip themselves with the necessary participants with valuable skills, they unlock the future for skills to adapt and succeed,” says former President of Master them,” adds Matthews. Builders Association of the Western Cape (MBAWC) and From a legislative perspective, the MBAWC Skills Trust Chairman of The Skills and Education Trust, John Matthews. has remained abreast of all construction sector requirements. Celebrating its 130th year of existence, the MBAWC has “To reduce on-site injuries, legislation related to Health and historically offered training for Artisans in the building indusSafety has become increasingly stringent. This has also led try in the Western Cape. The MBAWC Skills Programme was, to the Trust providing specialised training to aspiring Health however, formalised in 2002, at around the same time as the and Safety Officers, who, once qualified, are able to register Construction Sector Education & Training Authority (CETA) with the SACPCM, in order to work in health and safety was introduced. departments on construction sites. The demand for Health With a focus on continually upskilling workforces in the and Safety Officers has increased in the sector, as they play a built environment, the MBAWC took the decision to purchase pivotal role, particularly on-site,” notes Matthews. the Belhar Training College at the time as a way of ensuring Matthews says the industry needs to continuously upskill that more students were exposed to the skills needed to sucits members to remain abreast of technological advances. cessfully operate in the construction industry. “As the MBAWC we believe that skills enhance quality. When Matthews said that it soon became apparent, however, someone has the skills to build a house for a client, and it is that the Association could not be all things to all people and done properly the first time, that person is likely to get a call within a few years, sold the college to Northlink and formed back or a reference from that particular client. We have a the MBAWC Skills and Education Trust with the proceeds. vested interest in enhancing skills, because we know that the “Since then, the Trust has grown from strength to strength more skills people have, the better the quality of their output and supports not only employees of members of the MBAWC, and as a result, we secure the future of our industry.” n but also non-members within the industry. The Trust has over the years assisted more than 180 people become qualified Artisans, in addition to training many other indiJusCheck viduals in various additional An screen device which is simple disciplines.” to use. For the detection of drug To adapt to the changabuse in saliva. Test accurately for 6 drugs in 5 minutes. ing landscape of the industry, the Trust has had to change its approach in recent years. While Artisan training remains a priority, the Trust now offers training across various levels AlcoBlow® Rapid Test within the building indusStrongest and fastest breath alcohol tester on the try, adopting a more holistic market. AlcoBlow® Rapid approach. This in addition to Test requires the smallest breath sample and ensures granting bursaries to students accurate results first time, studying in the built environevery time. Results are obtained within seconds. ment, regardless of their year Very economical operation, no disposable mouthpieces of study. are required. Matthews says signifiAlcohol and drug testing specialists cant changes in the industry High speed testers capable of testing high volumes of people at site have required a change in entrance/exit points and portable instruments with digital readouts for use at remote sites providing immediate printed evidence. the types of skills needed.
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