12 minute read
Appealing to All
Building new skillsets and developing a wider, more diverse workforce are central to the successful growth and futureproofing of UK construction and the offsite sector.
The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has announced a £5,000 scholarship for every woman who will be joining their undergraduate master’s degree in Integrated Engineering programme in September 2022.
NMITE’s She/Her =Future Engineer scholarship aims to attract more women in to engineering by offering a competitive funding package specifically for specifically for females, or those who identify as female, wanting to further their education in engineering. “The engineering industry has told us time and again that there is desperate need for more diversity in the sector. NMITE has pledged to recruit a genderequal student population, and these scholarships will enable us to attract a wider diversity of undergraduate engineers with greater gender representation,” said NMITE President and CEO Professor Elena RodriguezFalcon. According to the Women’s Engineering Society, women account for only 14% of the engineering workforce in the UK and only 15% of engineering undergraduates in the UK are female. Every student joining NMITE in September 2022, regardless of gender or background, will receive a £2,000 bursary with females receiving a further £3,000.
Natasha Tait, a member of NMITE’s Pioneer Cohort, says: “I switched to NMITE after beginning my engineering degree at a different university which wasn’t right for me. Moving university was a tough decision to make and I was concerned about finances, but I realised that NMITE was really the place I wanted to be. My experience so far has exceeded my expectations and I am excited to come in every day and learn. The scholarship funding will alleviate some of the worries about paying for Higher Education, as it did for me. I think any woman who wants to see a change in the world can find their chance to make that change at NMITE, so I encourage them to make the most of this opportunity.”
NMITE is supported by engineering businesses, the Herefordshire community, Herefordshire Council, Olin College of Engineering (USA), professional engineering bodies and the UK Government, which awarded up to £23million in initial funding. £8million of this funding was awarded by the Marches LEP via its Growth Deal with Government with details provided in two separate announcements in October and November 2019 regarding our redesigned city centre location, Blackfriars, and the building of a new campus Centre on Hereford’s Enterprise Zone, Skylon Park.
Also launched are two short courses in Timber Technology Engineering Design to help upskill and reskill UK built environment professionals. NMITE is now offering both a BEng and MEng in Integrated Engineering, is launching two new short CPD courses. Delivered in partnership with Timber Development UK and Edinburgh Napier University, the first course started in September 2022.
Timber Technology Engineering Design 1 (TED 1) is a 12-week blended course composed of online distance learning and three on-campus challenge sprints of one week each. The Timber Technology Engineering Design 2 (TED 2) 12-week course will begin in January 2023, for those who have completed TED 1.
Both courses aim to build a community of knowledge in timber as a building material, contribute to the UK’s understanding of sustainable building, and provide a generation of timber professionals with an understanding of the principles of timber design construction and engineering methods within the context of the built environment. NMITE says, as well as in
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the UK it expects the courses to attract attention internationally in regions where timber construction is prevalent.
Associate Professor Aghlab AlAttili, academic lead says: “We have developed the courses to appeal to a wide range of Built Environment Professionals, working full or part-time in architecture firms and construction companies including designers, architectural assistants or those involved in technical sales. There is currently no CPD course that directly addresses timber in construction on this scale of detail with the same degree of academic rigour and associated learning techniques which address the market need.” In time for September, NMITE’s new Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) building has been handed over. Prof. Robert Hairstans who was appointed as CATT’s Founding Director in March 2021 to lead the development and delivery of the building and to help establish it as the leading national location in timber education said: “We are delighted to see how fast things have moved in the last year. These two new courses will reach new audiences, outside our Integrated Engineering BEng and MEng students, attracting attendees from the UK and internationally. It shows both the speed at which NMITE can move, the role it can play in delivering both degree programmes and short courses, and therefore the impact we will have in timber education.”
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With the number of women working in the construction industry rising – an estimated 37% of new entrants into construction coming from higher education being female – the number of courses, recruitment drives and initiatives to drive gender equality within the workplace, will hopefully help bring a fresh impetus to revitalising the built environment.
For more information visit:
www.nmite.ac.uk
Images:
01-03. More women and diverse talent entering the construction, manufacture and engineering sectors will drive long lasting change. Courtesy CSIC
Abi Parsons has joined the Dorset-based company from MASS Concrete, where she was Head of Sales and Marketing. She is just one of eight new appointments at Rollalong, which has experienced a busy 2022 so far across the residential, defence, education and healthcare sectors.
Among the other new recruits to join the company are: Ian Smicle-Thompson (Senior Quantity Surveyor), Aaron Staples and Ian Harman (Quantity Surveyors), Céline Brard (Procurement Assistant), Lynn Robinson (Quality Compliance Officer) and Dumitru Ipate (Lead Designer).
As Business Development Manager Abi is responsible for tendering via frameworks and for seeking new business opportunities in the residential sector, as well for liaising with Rollalong’s external marketing and PR agency.
“I was specifically looking for a design-led manufacturing business with a link to architecture or product design,” said Abi. “I have a background in CAD, marketing and sales in bespoke furniture, solar PV and aesthetic concrete. This role is quite different, but in a very positive way, and I’m absolutely loving it so far. I’m very happy to learn and I’m up for the challenge.
“We have a fantastic product at Rollalong and it’s been amazing to learn about the pattern book design of homes that we have developed with Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council as well as the land-led opportunities we are working on with our parent company the Newship Group. I’m really excited to see these opportunities develop.”
“I hope to remain at Rollalong and I already consider this a long-term role. I’m striving for growth within my sector and I’m happy to work hard in order to achieve this. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Managing Director Steve Chivers, Sales Manager Nigel Allen and all of the team for making me feel so welcome and for offering such great support at all times.”
For more information visit: www.rollalong.co.uk
NEW ATTITUDE NEW APPROACH
New research from construction data platform NBS reveals that construction has now become a desirable career path for UK school leavers and young adults, with 56% now considering it an 'attractive' profession with plenty of prospects.
NBS quizzed 2,000 18–29-year-olds across the UK regarding construction as a potential vocation, yielding surprising, but refreshingly positive results. This will come as welcome news to a sector that saw job vacancies hit an all-time high (49,000) earlier this year.
Importantly, the survey indicates a distinct cultural shift in attitudes amongst younger generations, in part, helped by the growing number of digital opportunities available and extensive media attention around the sector’s use of industry-leading tech, dispelling the myth that construction is a dead-end career. Russell Haworth CEO of NBS, said: “It’s clear that perceptions around construction are changing. Young people now realise it’s not the dull, dangerous, and dirty job as mislabelled for years by educators and career advisors. It’s great to see such an uptick in interest following some very lean years recruitment-wise. The challenge for the sector now is to jump on this opportunity, we must not miss it as has previously been the case.”
The poll included diversity-related questions and found marked improvement in a sector which has struggled to be inclusive for decades. Highlighting the fact that construction has been made to be more inclusive, 57% of females also stated that they consider construction to be a generally ‘diverse’ industry. Now over a fifth of women are ‘very interested' in construction as a career, showing scope for an influx of female employees following A-level and university results day.
However, a similar number are being actively dissuaded by peers and family to take a job in the industry. It shows whilst personal attitudes are changing, sector misconceptions persist, which must be overcome. Mirudhula Ponraj, 26, a Technical Trainee Assistant at Bellway Homes, said, “It's interesting to hear that more women are interested in construction. Great strides are being made in terms of inclusion, but we know more work still needs to be done for the sector to represent 21st century Britain. With schemes such as Women into Construction, I'm optimistic that we'll see more change in the next ten years.
“There's a misconception that construction is all about muddy boots and strong shoulders, today's industry is so much more. I studied Building Information Modelling (BIM) at uni. The fifth of women mentioned in NBS’ study looking to enter the industry might be surprised to learn that roles can be incredibly diverse. The next generation now have the opportunity to work with technical programmes and computer systems, utilising brains over brawn.”
Dismissing stereotypes that Millennials and Gen Z aren’t interested in highly skilled occupations, ‘Engineer’, particular structural and civils roles, ranked number two when it came to the list of most sought-after jobs. This was second only to ‘Healthcare Professional’ in popularity.
Drilling down, 8% were specifically interested an architectural career, potentially indicating why so many young people appear interested in making their mark in construction. Almost a third stated a passion for architecture and a similar number wanted to ‘create a better physical’ world, further supporting Gen Z’s growing reputation as the ‘sustainability generation’, regarding greener construction as a route to a lower carbon future.
Over a third flagged they were interested in construction because they see it as an industry ‘going through a massive, positive change’. This might reflect a growing public awareness over the past few years around the sector’s growing diversity, greater digital adoption and greener approaches to business. Emphasising the impact innovation is having on the industry, three quarters of respondents also recognised that ‘a lot’ or a ‘fair amount’ of technology is used in contemporary construction.
Despite an uplift in interest from a younger generation looking to make their way in the industry, another recent study by the Association of Colleges (AoC) found skills shortages amongst staff looking to teach construction are stalling progress. Putting the problem into context, 85% of further education colleges have struggled to secure staff to teach the relevant subjects.
“This study has proven to be a litmus test of where the industry is heading within the next twenty years,” added Russell Haworth. “Seeing more women and greater diversity entering the workforce will only continue its upward trajectory. With so much interest from young people our next challenge is turning interest into long and fruitful careers.”
For more information visit:
www.thenbs.com
If you are interested in learning more about offsite construction and the associated manufacturing processes then the following industry events may be of interest:
2022
12 October Structural Timber Awards
NCC, Birmingham
www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk
Returning for its eighth year in Birmingham, there has already been a large amount of attention focused on the 2022 Structural Timber Awards. The Awards once again will reward excellence, celebrate expertise in timber technology and the ways it contributes to an attractive, energy efficient and sustainable built environment.
2023
07 & 08 February Modular Matters
NCC, Birmingham
www.modularmatters.co.uk
Modular technology is ever evolving and to help keep pace with this fast-moving sector, Modular Matters demonstrates how to tackle industry challenges through a range of project case studies, innovative architecture and building design together with net zero. Presenting an insight into the future of construction, this event represents a great opportunity to gain industry intelligence and network with those who are at the forefront of the volumetric modular sector.
25 April Focus on Framing
Birmingham
www.focusonframing.co.uk
FOCUS ON
FRAMING
The only specialist event of its kind, Focus on Framing provides a solution for construction professionals looking to gain a greater understanding of the latest advances and best practise principles from sector experts. Through informative speakers and case study presentations the seminar will focus on the fast-track non-combustible solutions that are having a significant impact delivering outstanding buildings across all construction sectors.
26 May Offsite Awards Entry Deadline
Online
www.offsiteawards.co.uk
Returning for it’s NINTH year, there will be 25 categories that cover every aspect of the industry from hybrid and modular technology to engineering 22.09.20 and installation, ensuring that all aspects of the offsite building process is celebrated - recognising the design and technology that makes these RICOH ARENA - COVENTRY Co-located with inspiring projects possible.
23 June Structural Timber Awards Entry Deadline
Online
www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk
Featuring compelling examples of what can be achieved using the most natural and sustainable of materials, the 2023 Structural Timber Awards will be a celebration of not only outstanding projects and inspiring individuals, but the coming together of an industry.
19 & 20 September Offsite Expo 2023
Coventry Building Society Arena www.offsite-expo.co.uk
Offsite Expo brings together those who are driving change in the construction sector. The event will play host to the leading UK and international offsite manufacturers and component suppliers over two days showcasing a broad spectrum of panelised, volumetric modular solutions, pod and prefabricated MEP solutions, as well as the latest in Digital and BIM technology.
SAVE THE DATE AND SIGN UP EARLY FOR OFFSITE EXPO 2023!
BOOK
Book your stand by 01 November 2022 to retain 2022 published show rates!
CONTACT
Email julie.williams@radar-communications.co.uk or call 01743 290 001
