VALVES

Never stop learning

Valves perform extraordinarily varied and vital roles in the control and containment of fluids in modern industry and society. Anyone connected to or working in the valve industry should always be focussed on enhancing their knowledge.

In the growing online digital environment training is now more accessible than ever before. Pipes, Pumps and Valves Africa finds out more. One of the most keenly felt needs in today’s industrial world is in all probability the lack of skilled employees. Skills are vital to any industry. Whilst lowered cost is often considered the number one driver of competitiveness, just an important element is talent. The impact of investing in human talent should not be underestimated when it comes to gaining an edge on one's competition. With this in mind, the British Valve and Actuator Association (BVAA) have ardently been advocating the valve industry at large to not let training and skills development go to the wayside during these times. The coronavirus pandemic has left many organisations under pressure, not to mention causing large scale economic turmoil.

Rob Bartlett, director and CEO of the British Valve and Actuator Association (BVAA) says it was with this in mind that the organisation opted to take its training on-line. During a recent introductory webinar to its Introduction to Valves- course Bartlett said the move to online, virtual training allowed far more people to access training than ever before. The BVAA, for example, previously hosted all of their training in the United Kingdom making it an expensive endeavour for anyone out of the country to

attend. Now, courses can be accessed by the click of a button. Speaking at a seminar on the topic of online training, he said, courses were adapted to reach the online audience as efficiently and effectively as possible. "Our Introduction to Valves course, for example, is aimed at all individuals who have limited knowledge of valves or who wish to gain a broader perspective of their use. It is also suitable for engineers and technicians who wish to reintroduce themselves to the subject." The course itself, he said, was designed to give as much insight to attendees as possible. “It allows delegates to gain a thorough grasp of the basic principles and important aspects of valves and their associated use.” Offered over four sessions of an hour-and-a-half this type of training does not require someone to be away from their desk for hours on end. "You can continue with your workday and easily enough incorporate some training into the day."

Costs considered

Online training, says Bartlett, is also a more affordable option for companies, especially in the current tough economical environment. "Training online is far more costefficient and it is far less to do an online course than what it would be to come to our office and be trained in person." That does not mean that in-person training is a thing of the past. "We offer a choice to companies," said Bartlett.