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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: EDUCATION & TRAINING
HIGHLIGHTING THE DANGERS OF ASBESTOS A county firm has trained staff at more than 1,000 organisations to protect them from the dangers of asbestos. Acorn Analytical Services’ trainers have more than a decade of experience in the asbestos industry and are accredited by UKATA (UK Asbestos Training Association). Their UKATA approved asbestos awareness training course has been designed to promote awareness and reduce accidental disturbance for anyone who may come into contact with the potentially lethal material during the course of their work. In particular, asbestos awareness training should be given to employees in the refurbishment, maintenance and construction trades. However, company director Ian Stone (pictured) said other organisations should also consider whether their staff are at risk from asbestos and in need of awareness training. He explained: “When you think about those in danger of being exposed to asbestos, electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, demolition and construction workers, architects, building surveyors and maintenance staff all spring to mind. “The truth is so many people are in danger of being exposed to asbestos in their every day lives.
“Although the use of asbestos in construction here was banned in 1999 it’s still in many buildings which are over 20 years old, including many workplaces and schools. “As part of our campaign work to raise awareness about asbestos we met an ex-RAF pilot who lost his wife to the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma at 51. She didn’t work in any of the professions I’ve mentioned – she was a teacher who had been exposed to asbestos simply by pinning up schoolwork on display boards with asbestos fibres in them.
‘MANY PEOPLE ARE IN DANGER OF BEING EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS IN THEIR EVERY DAY LIVES’
“Around 5,000 people die in the UK from asbestos-related diseases every year. Company bosses and managers have a large role to play in reducing these numbers by making sure their staff receive the appropriate training.” Visit: www.acorn-as.com/ukataasbestos-awareness-training/
COURSE TO BUILD RESILIENCE
Anjana Rajani
A firm that runs energising coaching, training and wellbeing programmes that take the stress out of managing yourself and others, has developed a new course to support employees. Northampton-based Power2Progress launched its Mind Matters – Leadership Skills for Life program in April which aims to help individuals build resilience and to prevent or minimise mental health issues in the workplace. As part of the course, Power2Progress is offering free places on the introductory workshop which will be held on a monthly basis throughout the year. Director Anjana Rajani said: “The course aims to equip delegates with all the life skills they need to live a meaningful and purposeful life. It includes leadership skills for life that help people to selfregulate and self-manage. “The programme is full of tools
and techniques that will help to build resilience, self-awareness, re-wire unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving and develop habits to support positive mental change.” The two-day programme can be delivered on consecutive days or over four weeks in half-day modules or as part of an open program for individuals joining a coaching programme. The course is ideal for managers that are finding it difficult to deal with their own or their staff’s emotions or behaviours and businesses that have noticed more stress leave. It will also help individuals lacking confidence and firms going through organisational change that is impacting workloads and expectations of staff. For further information call 01604 510066, email info@power2progress.co.uk or visit www.power2progress.co.uk
FUNDING FOR APPRENTICES Employers can now claim up to £4,000 for taking on an apprentice aged between 16 and 18 and apprentices of any age can attract £3,000 of funding. The news has been welcomed by The Bedford College Group which can guide companies through the apprenticeship process. Head of business development Julie Hoult explained: “It requires a commitment to allow the individual to spend 20% of their time in training but that doesn’t have to be a day release to college, it can be online learning or mentoring in the workplace. “The new Government Incentive of £3,000 can be used for any apprentice starting employment between 1 April and 30 September. “In addition, there’s an employer grant, that is agerelated, of £1,000 for employers that take on, or put existing staff aged between 16 and 18 through an apprenticeship. “So, if an employer signs up an apprentice aged 17 they could claim £4,000. If they take on a 25-year-old they could claim £3,000.” On top of this if the employee has additional needs and an educational, health care plan in place, there are extra funds available for them as apprentices, if they are aged under 25. Larger companies which are Apprenticeship Levy payers, can use their levy to put existing staff through apprenticeships to upskill them at no extra cost. Non-levy payers only have to contribute 5% and the Government will pay the remaining 95% of the apprenticeship cost. For organisations with fewer than 50 employees, the Government will fund 100% of course fees for 16 to 18-yearolds The Bedford College Group is the largest provider of apprenticeship training in the South East Midlands region. To discuss the funding options available to businesses email training@bedford.ac.uk or call 01234 291747. Visit: www.bedford.ac.uk/ apprenticeships/apprenticesh ips-we-offer
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